The assassination of Charlie Kirk shocked the world. It graphically exposed the evil and division beneath society’s surface, and in an instant became this generation’s “JFK moment.”

In the days that followed, Kirk’s depth became increasingly apparent. He was a man who could converse on a wide range of topics, and would artfully bring facts and logic to every conversation. And while debate is not the forum for religious discussion (Rom. 1:28-29), this sometimes even included using the Bible to support a position.

Learning more about Kirk’s work and views, something that surprised me came to light: He was a Sabbath keeper. In fact, he had finished a book on the subject prior to his death.

Through careful study he learned what God’s Church has long understood—that the seventh-day Sabbath was never “done away with,” as the vast majority of mainstream Christianity asserts. The accuracy of his research was confirmed by the benefits experienced by keeping the Sabbath, with his wife noting the rest had “transformed” him.

Lord of the Sabbath

The Restored Church of God traces its roots to the Church Christ built in AD 31. Many are shocked to learn the same Jesus Christ explained, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).

The only Sabbath day in question was the seventh-day Sabbath kept by Christ and other Jews in His audience.

Contrary to what most believe, Christ did not do away with the Ten Commandments. Rather, He taught, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

In the next chapter, He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (5:17-18). This is impossible to misunderstand!

In chapter 19, Jesus was asked a question that should be on the mind of every Christian: “What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (vs. 16). His answer was “if you will enter into life, keep the commandments” (vs. 17). To ensure there was no misunderstanding which commandments He was referring to, He went on to list several of the Ten Commandments found in Deuteronomy 5 and Exodus 20.

While Christ did not cite each of the 10, it would have obviously included the all-important Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8).

Note how God began the command—remember! An all-wise Creator knew this command would be easy to forget. Unique to the other nine, humans cannot discern the need for a Sabbath, let alone which day it is. While routinely broken, the other commandments are generally accepted as “good ideas.” Killing, committing adultery, dishonoring parents and stealing are on their face wrong, but unless God commanded the seventh-day Sabbath, none could discern the need to keep it.

Verses 9 to 11 reveal why the commanded rest: “Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Just as God rested from His work during the Creation week, He wants us to remember to rest on the seventh day, and focus on Him as our Creator.

From the Beginning

My book on the subject Saturday or Sunday – Which Is the Sabbath? thoroughly explains why Christians must observe the Sabbath and how to keep it holy.

It begins by revealing God instituted the seventh-day Sabbath at Creation:

“The subject of which day is the Christian Sabbath is one of the longest running debates about any Bible teaching. Theologians and ministers of every background and theology have offered their opinion about the ‘Saturday or Sunday’ question. Most begin with the assumption that traditional, orthodox Christianity is the place to start the discussion. While human opinion should not count, astonishingly, most are content to accept it. Few will look to the Bible as the authority. Not only is God’s Word the place to begin the study of this subject, as well as that of every other doctrine of God, but the ‘which day is holy’ question already arises at the very beginning of the Bible.

“The book of Genesis—the name means ‘beginnings’—speaks almost immediately about the subject of the Sabbath—the seventh day of the week. It is as though God wanted this issue clearly established in the minds of the Bible’s readers from the outset of their study of Scripture.

“Near the book’s beginning, immediately after the ‘Creation chapter’ concludes, the Bible states this: ‘Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made’ (2:1-3).”

Think. Why if God rested on the seventh day—Saturday—would Christ have changed the day of rest to Sunday?

In the book I dismantle all flimsy arguments like the false assertion that Christ was resurrected on Sunday, giving credence to a Sunday Sabbath. You will come to understand He was provably resurrected on a Sabbath! Every argument used to prove a Sunday Sabbath is exposed as human reasoning.

Those serious about Christianity should read it online or request a copy to understand what the Bible truly says on the matter.

But more than just pointing to the Creation week, the Sabbath also points forward to a time of “rest” for the people of God, and even all mankind! A Kingdom God’s Church now understands better than ever will soon transform life on Earth. All mankind will keep the Sabbath and experience its benefits.

But you now have advance knowledge. You can keep the Sabbath and enjoy God’s “rest” that must be experienced to understand ahead of this Kingdom!

If you are interested in keeping the Sabbath, contact us at rcg.org to find a congregation near you.