🕊️ The Sabbath Replaced: A Response to Mark Creech’s article “Honoring the Sabbath Is Not Just a Suggestion”

Mark Creech’s article, “Honoring the Sabbath Is Not Just a Suggestion,” rightly calls Christians to take God’s commandments seriously. But it also reflects a widespread confusion: that Sunday observance fulfills the Fourth Commandment and that the Sabbath has been redefined by tradition.

Mainstream Christianity has long held Sunday as the “Lord’s Day”—a sacred time for worship, rest, and reflection. But is this tradition rooted in Scripture, or has it become a theological construct built on human reasoning and historical convenience?

This article serves two purposes:

1. To respond directly to Rev. Mark Creech’s Christian Post article titled “Honoring the Sabbath Is Not Just a Suggestion.” You can read that article here.

   
   

2. To refute the truth claims made by Christian theologians, pastors, and teachers who elevate Sunday to a status never given by God.

This article offers both a direct response to Creech and a broader theological reckoning with the claim that Sunday has replaced the biblical Sabbath.

This article is not merely a critique—it is, as stated just a moment ago, a theological reckoning with the claim that Sunday has replaced the biblical Sabbath, and how this shift has had and continues to have profound historical and spiritual consequences. It is a call to return to what God has declared holy—not what man has redefined.

📜 What Day Did God Appoint?

Rev. Creech opens his article by affirming the importance of honoring the Sabbath. He quotes Exodus 20:8:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

But then he pivots—suggesting that Sunday, the first day of the week, is now the day Christians should honor. He writes:

“While Christians recognize that Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law and that the church now gathers for worship on Sunday, the moral imperative to honor a day set apart for God has never been repealed.”

Here’s the problem: the moral imperative hasn’t been repealed—but the day has been replaced.

Scripture is clear:

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God.” — Exodus 20:9–10

Let me emphasize what the Scriptures identify as the Sabbath- "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God."

Jesus Himself affirms:

“For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” — Matthew 12:8

“Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” — Mark 2:28

He never called Himself the Lord of Sunday. Jesus never instructed His followers to gather on the first day of the week in place of the seventh. Scripture never refers to Sunday or the first day of the week as "The Lord's Day". The Sabbath—the seventh day—is the day God sanctified, blessed, and commanded His people to remember.

🔄 Replacement Theology Applied to the Sabbath

Traditionally, replacement theology refers to the belief that the Church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people. But I propose a parallel framework: Christianity has also replaced God’s appointed Sabbath with Sunday, claiming that the blessings, rest, and sacred convocation once tied to the seventh day now belong to the first.

Rev. Creech writes:

“If we recover the delight of God’s appointed day, then the promise of Isaiah applies.”

But what day is God’s appointed day?

Is it the first day of the week?

Or the seventh?

The promise of Isaiah applies to the seventh day of the week - the Sabbath—not Sunday.

This theological sleight of hand is not supported by Scripture. It is a tradition of men—an inherited practice that has made the commandment of God of no effect.

“Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” — Matthew 15:6

🧠 Sincerity Is Not the Same as Truth

Many sincere Christians believe they are honoring God by worshiping on Sunday. But sincerity does not equal correctness or even Truth.

The shift from Sabbath to Sunday is not a biblical mandate—it is a theological and historical development shaped by human reasoning and institutional influence.

While theological rationalizations played a major role, we must also acknowledge the broader historical context. The separation of Christianity from Judaism was not instantaneous—it was a gradual process marked by key turning points. Some scholars point to the Council of Jamnia around 90 A.D., where a curse against heretics may have led to Jewish expulsions of early believers in Jesus. Others highlight Roman actions against Christians following the Jewish revolts (66–74 A.D.), which further solidified the perception of Christians as a distinct group. By the time of the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–135 A.D.), the separation was largely complete.

In the second century, Christianity—now increasingly Gentile—began to develop its own identity, often in deliberate contrast to Judaism. This included distancing itself from biblical Jewish customs such as Sabbath observance. Sunday worship became a marker of Christian distinctiveness, not because of divine instruction, but because of cultural and political expediency.

🏛️ Constantine and the Codification of Sunday

Later, Constantine’s civil edicts and early Church councils reinforced this shift. In A.D. 321, Emperor Constantine issued a decree mandating rest on “the venerable day of the sun,” aligning Roman civil practice with emerging Christian customs. Church councils such as Nicaea (325 A.D.) helped codify Sunday observance, further distancing Christian worship from its Biblical and Jewish Sabbath roots.

But this shift was not merely administrative—it was ideological.

At the Council of Nicaea, Constantine read aloud a letter that would be sent to churches across the empire, announcing a new date and name to commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus - Easter. This event was deliberately severed from the biblical calendar—no longer tied to Passover or Firstfruits, the actual days of Yeshua’s [Jesus] death and resurrection. Instead, this new holiday called "Easter" would be celebrated on a Sunday determined by ecclesiastical calculation, not divine appointment.

Constantine’s letter declared:

“When the question arose concerning the most holy day of Easter it was decreed by common consent to be expedient, that this festival should be celebrated on the same day by all, in every place… And truly, in the first place, it seemed to every one a most unworthy thing that we should follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this most holy solemnity, who, polluted wretches, having stained their hands with a nefarious crime, are justly blinded in their minds… It is fit, therefore, that rejecting the practice of this people, we should perpetuate to all future ages the celebration of this rite, in a more legitimate order… Let us then have nothing in common with the most hostile rabble of the Jews.”

— Council of Nicaea, quoted in How the Church Lost the Way, Steve Maltz (Saffron Planet, 2009)

This statement reveals the theological and political motivations behind the calendar shift. It was not simply a matter of honoring Christ—it was a deliberate rejection of the biblical Jewish roots of the faith. The desire to “have nothing in common” with the Jewish people became a guiding principle in the formation of Christian liturgy and law, contributing to centuries of anti-Semitic sentiment and legislation.

By divorcing the resurrection from Firstfruits and replacing Passover with Easter, the Church not only altered its calendar—it obscured the prophetic fulfillment embedded in God’s appointed times. The result was a tradition built on replacement rather than revelation, on human decree rather than divine design.

These shifts were not grounded in divine command but in historical pressures, political expediency, ecclesiastical authority, and the reinterpretation of biblical texts. They reflect a convergence of identity politics, pagan tradition, imperial policy, doctrinal evolution, and theological reinterpretation—not a continuation of biblical Sabbath observance or Truth.

In my previous article, “Sunday: The Lord’s Day – God’s Teaching or Men’s Tradition,” I explored how theological rationalizations—not divine instruction—led to the elevation of Sunday. These rationalizations often rely on selective readings of New Testament passages, interpretive assumptions about apostolic gatherings, and doctrinal extrapolations that lack clear biblical authority.

You can read that article here.

A Mirror to Mainstream Christianity

Rev. Creech’s article serves as a mirror. It reflects the theological inconsistency of mainstream Christianity. He writes:

“We will never rise spiritually above our regard for the Lord’s Day.”

I agree—but only if we’re talking about the actual Lord’s Day: the seventh-day Sabbath.

Creech and others argue that Sunday has inherited the spiritual significance of the Sabbath. But this is a form of theological replacement. It’s not just incorrect—it’s spiritually dangerous.

📖 The Commandments of Men vs. the Commandments of God

Jesus warned against elevating human tradition above divine command:

“In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” — Matthew 15:9

Calling Sunday the "Christian Sabbath" is teaching a doctrine of men. The Bible never refers to Sunday as holy. It never calls it the Sabbath or the "Christian Sabbath". It also never instructs believers to gather on that day in place of the seventh.

Rev. Creech and others may offer theological explanations—but they do not stand up to Scripture.

🙏 A Call to Repentance, Reflection, and Return to Truth

Rev. Creech concludes his article by saying:

“The renewal America needs doesn’t begin in Washington or Wall Street. It starts in the church.”

I agree wholeheartedly.

But he continues:

“It begins not someday—but Sunday.”

And here, I must respectfully disagree.

It begins today—with repentance, reflection, and a return to Scripture and Truth.

It begins with acknowledging that the Church has replaced what God declared holy with a tradition of man.

Jesus is still the Lord of the Sabbath, the seventh day.

He never relinquished that title.

He never transferred it to Sunday, the first day.

And it’s time we stopped pretending He did.

🕊️ The Sabbath Was Never Meant to Be Replaced

To all sincere Christians, pastors, and theologians: I believe your hearts are genuine. But on this issue, you are sincerely wrong. The Sabbath was never meant to be replaced—it was meant to be remembered, and it was meant to be utilized properly by Christians. As Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). It is a gift, not a burden—a divine rhythm designed for rest, worship, and renewal.

📜 What God Established

From the very beginning, God sanctified the seventh day. Genesis 2:3 tells us, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”

This wasn’t a cultural accommodation or a temporary ordinance—it was a divine act of setting apart. Long before Israel, long before Moses, the seventh-day Sabbath was woven into the fabric of creation itself.

When God gave the Ten Commandments, He didn’t suggest the Sabbath—He commanded it. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). This wasn’t merely ceremonial law; it was moral, eternal, and rooted in God’s own example.

It’s important here to make a distinction that is often overlooked: the difference between the Sabbath day and the Sabbath command—the Fourth Commandment. Many mainstream Christians use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same.

📜 The Fourth Commandment: Covenant vs. Creation

The Fourth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:8–11, commands the Israelites to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” It outlines a rhythm of six days of labor followed by one day of rest—the seventh day. This command was given specifically to Israel as part of the covenant at Sinai—it was not issued universally to all humanity in the form of law.

However, the Sabbath day itself predates the command. It was sanctified at creation (Genesis 2:3), long before Israel existed. Jesus affirms this when He says, “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27)—not just for Israel, but for mankind. The day is a gift embedded in creation; the command was a covenantal instruction to Israel.

So while the Fourth Commandment may not be binding on Gentile Christians in the same legal sense, the principle of Sabbath rest on the seventh day remains relevant. The New Testament never negates the value of the seventh day as a time for worship, renewal, and rest.

📖 Addressing Common Objections

Others contend that because the Fourth Commandment is not explicitly repeated in the New Testament, it is no longer binding under the New Covenant. They argue that Gentile Christians are not required to set apart the seventh day for corporate worship, spiritual renewal, or holy rest.

Still others point to Hebrews 4 and say, “Jesus is our Sabbath rest,” interpreting this to mean that the physical observance of the Sabbath is no longer necessary.

But these arguments miss the deeper continuity of Scripture.

While the exact wording of the Fourth Commandment may not be repeated in the New Testament, the concept of Sabbath rest is never negated. In fact, the New Testament mentions Sabbath-keeping in various contexts—often involving both Jewish and Gentile believers.

And while Hebrews 4 does emphasize a spiritual rest in Christ—a rest from sin and striving for one's salvation and righteousness—it does not abolish the principle of setting apart time, specifically the seventh day, for rest, worship, and renewal. Jesus Himself said, “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27)—not just for Jews, not just for a covenantal moment, but for humanity.

The Sabbath day remains a gift. The Sabbath command remains a witness. And together, they point us to Jesus and invite us into a rhythm that reflects both creation and redemption.

🧠 What History Reveals

The shift from Sabbath to Sunday was not a biblical transition—it was a historical one. Early church writings and Roman influence gradually elevated Sunday in honor of the resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit, but this was never commanded by Jesus Christ or the Apostles. Constantine’s edict in 321 A.D. formalized Sunday observance, blending Christian sentiment with pagan sun worship. Church councils later reinforced this shift, not through Scripture, but through ecclesiastical authority.

Mark Creech’s article, “Honoring the Sabbath Is Not Just a Suggestion,” rightly emphasizes the importance of honoring God’s holy day—but wrongly assumes that Sunday has inherited that role. His argument, though passionate, lacks biblical foundation. The resurrection is central to our faith, but it does not redefine the Sabbath.

🧭 Sunday Is Not the Sabbath

Creech’s article implies that Sunday observance fulfills the Fourth Commandment. This is historically and biblically inaccurate. The Sabbath is the seventh day (Saturday), not the first (Sunday). Scripture never reassigns the Sabbath to Sunday, nor does it command Christians to rest or worship on that day.

Sunday worship arose gradually in post-apostolic tradition, influenced by Roman culture and ecclesiastical authority—not by divine command. Constantine’s Sunday law in 321 AD and subsequent church councils institutionalized Sunday observance, but these were human decisions, not biblical mandates.

Calling Sunday “the Christian Sabbath” confuses tradition with truth. The Bible never equates the first day of the week with the sanctified seventh day.

✝️ The Resurrection and the First Day

Some argue that Sunday honors Christ’s resurrection. While the resurrection is central to Christian faith, Scripture never connects it to Sabbath observance. Nor does it ever connect Jesus Himself to Sunday in any theological or liturgical sense.

As a matter of biblical fact, Jesus was resurrected on a Holy Day—the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9–14), which occurred during the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread following Passover. This feast prophetically pointed to the Messiah as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20), and it was fulfilled precisely in Christ’s resurrection. Yet mainstream Christianity has largely ignored or dismissed this connection, choosing instead to elevate Sunday—a day never sanctified by God—as the focal point of worship.

Some also argue that Sunday honors the giving of the Holy Spirit, since Pentecost in Acts 2 occurred on “the first day of the week.” But this too overlooks the biblical foundation: Pentecost (Shavuot) is a Holy Day—one of God’s appointed feasts (Leviticus 23:15–21). The outpouring of the Spirit didn’t happen on a random Sunday; it happened on a divinely appointed festival that commemorated the giving of the Law at Sinai and prophetically pointed to the giving of the Spirit under the New Covenant.

In both cases—resurrection and Spirit outpouring—God acted on His calendar, not man’s. The apostles continued to worship on the seventh day (Acts 13:42–44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4), and Paul explicitly warns against elevating one day above another (Romans 14:5–6; Colossians 2:16–17).

Honoring the resurrection and the Spirit is vital—but it does not require replacing the Sabbath day and ignoring the Feasts.

We celebrate Christ daily, and weekly gatherings can occur on any day. But calling Sunday “the Lord’s Day” in a way that overrides the Sabbath lacks biblical support and obscures the true prophetic fulfillment of these events.

📖 Sidebar: What Did Paul Really Say?

Two passages often cited to justify Sunday worship or dismiss Sabbath observance are Romans 14:5–6 and Colossians 2:16–17. But do they actually support that conclusion?

Romans 14:5–6 says:

“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”

This passage is not a dismissal of the Sabbath day. Paul is addressing disputes over non-commanded observances—likely fast days or traditional Jewish customs—not the divinely instituted Sabbath. His point is that believers should not judge one another over personal convictions in areas where Scripture allows freedom. But the Sabbath is not a matter of personal preference—it is a day set aside and made holy by God at creation (Genesis 2:2–3).

Colossians 2:16–17 says:

“Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

Here, Paul is confronting legalistic pressures from Jewish sects demanding strict observance of ceremonial laws. The Sabbath command, along with other commands that dealt with sacred times, pointed forward to Christ—but that doesn’t mean the Sabbath day or Holy Days are abolished. Rather, their meaning is fulfilled and deepened in Him. Paul’s concern is not with the Sabbath day itself, but with how it was being imposed. He affirms the believer’s freedom in Christ—not a rejection of God’s appointed times.

✝️ Sabbath as a Gift, Not a Burden - What Jesus Practiced

Jesus didn’t abolish the Sabbath day—He clarified its purpose. He healed on it, taught on it, and honored it. His statement in Mark 2:27 was revolutionary: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Jesus taught that the Sabbath day was made for man’s benefit—not as a legalistic burden. In other words, it was designed for our benefit, not our bondage.

Jesus never hinted at replacing the Sabbath with Sunday. In fact, He affirmed its value by living it. He uses the Sabbath by inviting us to love one another, cease striving, remember our Creator, and delight in His presence.

For Christians today, the seventh-day Sabbath remains a sacred opportunity to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God. It is not a salvific requirement, but a divine rhythm woven into creation itself.

🧠 A Reckoning with Replacement Theology

The idea that Sunday replaced the Sabbath is not rooted in Scripture—it is a product of ecclesiastical tradition. Church fathers like Justin Martyr and Ignatius of Antioch began to elevate Sunday in the second century, often to distance Christianity from Judaism. Over time, this shift became institutionalized, culminating in Roman edicts and church councils that codified Sunday as the day of rest.

But replacement theology—whether applied to Israel or the Sabbath—must be tested against Scripture. God never declared Sunday holy. He never transferred the sanctity of the seventh day to the first. The Sabbath remains the only day He blessed and sanctified from the beginning.

🛡️ Conclusion: Return to the Word and A Call to Reflect

The evidence is clear: the Sabbath was instituted at creation, affirmed in the Ten Commandments, practiced by Jesus, and never biblically abolished. Sunday worship, while meaningful to many, is rooted in tradition—not divine command.

This article invites honest reflection on how mainstream Christianity has often substituted divine instruction with human tradition—especially regarding what God calls holy.

But this isn’t just about correcting a calendar—it’s about recovering truth. The Sabbath is not a relic of the past; it is a loving gift from God to His people (Genesis 2:3, Mark 2:27). To remember it is to realign with the rhythm of creation, the example of Christ Jesus, and the authority of Scripture.

I urge every believer, pastor, and theologian to reconsider not just what has been taught, but what has been written. The call to remember the Sabbath is not a suggestion—it’s a summons. Not to bondage, but to blessing. Not to tradition, but to truth.

Let this article serve as a mirror.

Let it reflect the Truth of Scripture.

Let it call us back to God and the day God made holy.