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1.
Ex.20:8-11 - What positive word begins the fourth command?
Which day
is the Sabbath?
Who does it belong to?
Ex.20: 8.
Remember the Sabbath day, to
keep it holy. 9. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10. But
the seventh day is the Sabbath
of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do
any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
What did
God do to make the seventh day of creation a holy Sabbath?
When we
keep the Sabbath, whose birthday do we celebrate?
11. 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.
2.
Gen.2:1-3 - When did God create the Sabbath?
Gen.2:1. Thus the heavens and the
earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2. 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.
What did He
do to make it different from the other days?
3. 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.
3. Rev.1:10
- Is there a "Lord's day"?
Rev.1:10. I was in the Spirit on the
Lord's day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet
4. Matt.12:8
- Which is the Lord's day?
Mat.12:8. For the Son of man is Lord even of
the Sabbath day.
---In
Isa.58:13 God calls the Sabbath
His
holy day. ---
Mk.2:27-28 also records Jesus declaring himself
Lord of the Sabbath day!
--Since
"the seventh day
is the Sabbath of the Lord" we conclude that the seventh-day
Sabbath (Saturday) is the Lord's day!
5.
Col.1:16-17 - Why is Jesus the true Lord of the Sabbath?
Col.1:16.
For by him were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:17. And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.
--
It was by divine power that Jesus created planet earth in six days, and it was
by his divine wisdom that He created the Sabbath day as the memorial of His
creative power. See lesson # 3 on creation!
--John
1:1-3,14; Eph.3:9;and Heb.1:1-2 all show that Jesus pre-existed as an active
member of the Creator-God family.
He made a
special Birthday-cake treat, the Sabbath, as a gift to man. It was Jesus who
told Adam and Eve about their creation as He walked with them in the garden.
--- 1 Cor.10:1-4 and Neh.9:12-13 make it clear
that Jesus was the great
Spiritual Rock and the God of all the
Old Testament dealings. He spoke to Moses. He led Israel out of Egypt. He
tested their loyalty by the Sabbath manna miracles, and He was the one who wrote
the ten commandments on tablets of stone. Therefore Jesus is the King, Creator,
and Lord of the Sabbath. HE MADE IT!
6. Mark
2:27-28 For whom was the Sabbath made?
Mk.2:27. And he said unto them, The Sabbath
was
made for man,
and not man for the Sabbath: 28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the
Sabbath.
--The
Sabbath was made for "MAN"!
Like marriage it comes from Eden before sin. The seven-day week comes to us like
a priceless relic from the garden of Eden.
---The Sabbath and the marriage institution were
made by God for mankind. They
were both created as a blessing for the
human race. The Sabbath was made for
all mankind: - for his delight, enjoyment, refreshment, happiness, and
fellowship with God.
7. Ps.111:4
- What does the Lord want us to remember?
Ps.111:4. He hath made
his wonderful works to be
remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
8. Ps.135:13
-How long is his memorial (of creation) to last?
Ps.135:13. Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord,
throughout all generations.
--
Sabbath-keeping is to be a delight, (Isa.58:13) and should be enjoyed like a
special treat and gift from God.
---The Sabbath is like God's birthday cake. He took a portion of time and mixed
in the ingredients of rest, blessing and sanctification.
-- All
mankind should honor the creator by accepting his gift with appreciation for the
life and happiness it signifies.
9.Ps.95.1-5
- What kind of song of praise brings honor to our great Creator-King?
---What is the Lord above all gods?
Ps.95:1. O come, let us sing unto the Lord:
let us make a joyful noise to the
rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence
with thanksgiving, and make a
joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3. For the Lord is a great God, and
a great King above all gods.
---He is the King or ruler; the creator or maker, and He is also "the rock of
our salvation."
10.
Ezek.20:12 - What is the sign that God can re-create or sanctify hearts?
Ezek.20:12. Moreover also I gave them
my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might
know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
---Jesus
continues to save and keep us from falling by sanctifying and making us fit for
heaven. He creates within us new desires to live the holy life of Jesus.
---The
Sabbath is a memorial to God as Creator (v.20)
and Savior. He saved
us from eternal death when He cried out, "It is finished!" and died for us. Then
He rested on the Sabbath in the tomb. The Sabbath is a memorial of that finished
work of redemption as well as the finished work of creation.
11. Acts
17:2; - What was Paul's Sabbath keeping custom?
Acts 17:2. And Paul, as his manner was, went
in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.
- Note v.3 - - Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and
risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is
Christ.
--- Note
- Paul preached that Christ suffered and died for our sins and rose again! Paul
kept the Sabbath as Jesus did by working a handicraft such as tent-making or
woodwork on the six working days but by resting, worshipping, and teaching on
the seventh day.
--- Paul
helped establish Sabbath-keeping churches. He warned Christians against false
teachers and against departing from God-given customs and truth. Luke's record
of Paul's life shows that he continued the custom of Sabbath observance
throughout his life. (Acts 28:17).
12. Acts
18:4 -Who listened to Paul's Sabbath sermons?
Acts 18:4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the
Jews and the Greeks.
---Note
Acts 13:14,42-44;16:13, that wherever Paul was he observed the Sabbath with Jews
and Greeks. When Paul went to Macedonia there was no synagogue and only a few
Sabbath-keepers but he joined with them at their place of prayer and shared the
gospel.
- - Acts 13: 42. And when the Jews were gone
out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached
to them the next Sabbath. 44. And
the next Sabbath day came almost
the whole city together to hear the word of God...16:13. And on the
Sabbath we went out of the city
by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake
unto the women which resorted thither.
13.
Acts.13:26-33 - Here is a sample Sabbath sermon by the apostle Paul!
What did he
call his message?
Acts 13: NIV 26. Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles,
it is to us that this message of
salvation
has been sent. 27. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not
recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets
that are read every Sabbath.
(Read your Bible to verse 33)
--Paul's
theme was that Jesus was the Messiah; that He died, and arose from the grave;
and that He lives as our Priest-King to give us forgiveness. (v.38)
14. 1
Pet.2:21-22 - Who has given us a life-style example to follow?
1 Pet.2:21. For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22. Who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth:
--Consider two points: (1) It is an honor to suffer persecution or false
accusations for Christ because Jesus suffered much more for us! (2)
It is a joy to follow his life-style of obedience and perfect Sabbath keeping.
15. Lu.4:16
- Jesus, a carpenter for 30 years, gave us an example of Sabbath
observance! --What was his custom in this regard?
Lu.4:16. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and,
as his custom was, he went into the synagogue
on the Sabbath day,
and stood up for to read.
- - Notice
Lu.6:2-11. Certain Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath because He
had deliberately set aside some of their manmade regulations about how to
observe the Sabbath. They had made Sabbath keeping a burden with
ridiculous rules. Jesus wanted to clean off these barnacles and restore true
Sabbath keeping to its original beauty.
5. And he said unto them, That the Son of man
is Lord also of the Sabbath. 6. And it came to pass also on another Sabbath ...
he would heal .. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing;
Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do
good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 10. And looking
round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he
did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.11. And they were filled
with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
---Note Mat.12:11. And he said unto
them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it
fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12. How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore
it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath
days.
--Imagine how it was back then. As a youth, Jesus grew strong and manly by his
careful work at the carpenter's bench. Sunday through Friday we would find him
faithfully working, but on Saturday the shop would be empty and quiet for it is
His day of rest. The entire family have gone to the synagogue to worship the
Holy God on His Holy day. (Isa.58:13)
--When
Jesus began his public ministry he not only kept the Sabbath but focused
attention upon how it should be kept. (Jn.5:5-17;7:22-23; Mk.1:21-31;
Mat.12:1-13;Mk.2:23-28; 3:1-5; Lu.6:6-11; Jn.9:1-41; Lu.13:11-17; 14:1-6)
--He set
aside man-made rules and restored the Sabbath to its original beauty so the joy
and delight of it could be seen. (more in lessons 30 & 30A.)
16.
Matt.24:20 - Looking into the future to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70
AD what did Jesus say about the Sabbath?
Mat.24:20. And
pray that your flight may not be
in winter or on the Sabbath.
--For
forty years Christians were to pray that they might not have to flee on the
Sabbath day. Jesus foresaw the fear, war, bloodshed and the work in connection
with fleeing from Jerusalem.
--He
knew that Sabbath observance would be difficult and so He taught that in times
of stress everyone should make proper Sabbath keeping a matter of prayer.
17.
Heb.13:8-9 - Does Jesus change? ---- Do His
doctrines change?
Heb.13: NIV 8. Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday and today and forever. 9. Do not be carried away by all
kinds of strange teachings.
--Thank
God, He never changes. It was the truth that the seventh day is the Sabbath and
it is still the truth today. Don't be fooled by strange teachigs.
18.
Heb.4:4,9 - verse 9 margin :"There remaineth therefore a keeping of a
Sabbath" What day of the week is mentioned?
Heb.4: NIV 4. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these
words: "And on the seventh day
God rested from all his work" 9. There
remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
-- Note v.10 NIV - for anyone who enters
God's rest also rests from his own work,
just as God did from his.
--The
seventh-day Sabbath observance still reminds us of a perfect Eden Creation yet
to be restored with a heavenly rest yet to come.
19.
Isa.66:22-23 - What weekly day will people gather to worship in the new
earth?
Isa.66: NKJ 22. "For as the new heavens and
the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the Lord, "So
shall your descendants and your name remain. 23. And it shall come to pass that
from one New Moon to another, and from
one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says
the Lord.
--What a
day of joy that will always be; flying to the New Jerusalem, joining with others
from all over the world, and worshiping King Jesus, Creator of the Universe in
person!
DEAR
READER:
I
would be thrilled to meet you there and have a Sabbath afternoon lunch and
visit. Put me down for one of your many Sabbaths. There is no
rush. We will have all of eternity you know.
May God bless you,
Edward Graves
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