Does Keeping the Sabbath Earn Salvation? by Ken Murray

The question is sometimes asked: “Does keeping of the Sabbath earn us salvation?”

The short answer is: “No. We cannot earn salvation by keeping a law or a number of laws. Salvation is given by the grace of God through faith and repentance. However, if a person wants to be converted and have the mind of Jesus Christ, then the Sabbath is one of many of God’s laws which God expects us to remember to keep, with the help and power of God’s Holy Spirit within us.”

The following well-known scriptures make it clear that salvation is God’s gift: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

However, the fact that that we have certain obligations, specific things that we must do is inescapable: “Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

The apostle Paul explained that salvation does require faith. Faith is actually one of the weightier qualities of God’s law, as Jesus explained.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Matthew 23:23).

Notice that faith is an important part of God’s law. Faith is not separate from God’s law.

This question: “Can we earn salvation by keeping the Sabbath?” sometimes reveals that the one asking the question, wants to know the minimal amount of obedience to God that is necessary. It can also show the person asking the question does not understand the purpose of God’s wonderful laws, statutes, ordinances and principles of how to live.

Purpose of God’s law

The purpose of God’s law is to guide us in becoming converted with the help of God’s Holy Spirit within us.

God’s law was never given so that we could claim salvation from Him because of our law keeping.

The purpose of keeping God’s law is very simply outlined in Psalm 19:7-8:

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

Notice that the purpose of the law of God is to guide us in becoming converted to the mind and character of God.

God’s law also gives us knowledge and understanding of how to be wise and not dumb. It enlightens us as to what is right and wrong and leads us in having a happy life. God’s law guides us in right thinking, speaking and actions.

How do we become converted?

Conversion is a lifelong process of developing the mind and character of God.

Jesus said, “Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted, and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Conversion takes faith, repentance and ongoing loving obedience to God, with the powerful help of God’s Holy Spirit within us.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

Conversion begins with faith and repentance followed by receiving God’s Holy Spirit within us by baptism and the laying on of hands of Christ’s ministry.

“Therefore we are buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:4-6).

Notice that after baptism we are not to be “slaves of sin.”

Sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4). Hence, if we are not to serve sin by breaking God’s law, we should live our lives in loving obedience to God’s laws. Remembering to keep the Sabbath day holy is just one of God’s wonderful laws.

The laws of God show us how to love God with all our heart mind and being and how to love our neighbor as ourselves, with the help of His Holy Spirit. (John 14:26; John 16:8-14)

A comparative view of the path to salvation

So when we look at the road to salvation it is not that salvation can be earned by either the Judaisers’ nor the Protestants’ approach nor any other human philosophical approach, because salvation is by the grace and pardon of the Almighty God. Ultimately, it is God’s choice.

It is not:

Self => Righteousness through works => Salvation

(This is human righteousness, which cannot lead to salvation. This was the Judaism Paul and Christ encountered and is still extant today in various religious flavors.)

Nor is it:

Faith => Justification => Faith and “do as I please, take me as I am Lord” => Salvation

(This is human self-justification/righteousness, which also cannot lead to salvation. It is a theme of this world’s Christianity.)

However, there are expectations that God has of us, if we are to overcome temptation, lust and sin, and become converted in developing the mind of Jesus Christ.

The abbreviated overview of the path to salvation is:

Calling from God => Faith => Repentance for breaking God's laws => Baptism => Laying on of Hands => receiving God's Holy Spirit => Righteousness through the work of God's Spirit by ongoing faith, repentance, loving obedience to God's laws and Way of life => growing in Conversion => Salvation by God's loving grace and pardon. His choice from His calling.

Are we rewarded according to our works?

It is true that we cannot earn salvation by our works, because the ultimate choice of our salvation rests with God. By His grace and pardon for our sins, we are saved and given the gift of eternal life as a son or daughter in the family of God.

God’s salvation is conditional upon our faith and repentance for our sins or transgressions of God’s law.

Once we receive salvation and are resurrected into the family of God, He will also reward us with extra blessings. Those blessings will be in accordance to our works.

“For the Son of man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).

“If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does he not know it? And will he not render to each man according to his deeds?” (Proverbs 24:12).

There is a big job ahead for all of us to help to teach God’s way of life to all of humankind in the Millennium of Christ’s rule, in the Kingdom of God, as appointed kings and priests on this earth.

“And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10).

In the parable of the 10 servants who were each given a “mina,” Christ alluded to the rewards to be given in God’s Kingdom to those who repent, change and grow in conversion. “Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant: because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities’” (Luke 19:16-19).

Then there will be an even bigger job to be done when the second resurrection takes place and all of those people will need to be taught and given understanding about God and His Way of life.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged, each one according to his works” (Revelation 20:12).

Now is the time for us to be preparing and learning how to love God and love our fellow humankind. Now is the time to grow in grace and knowledge, with understanding and wisdom in God’s Word.

Now is the time for us to become converted, so that when we are rewarded with the opportunity of helping humanity the most, we will be up to the task of that exciting and fulfilling assignment.