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The Sabbath is the oldest institution in the world. It is the weekly day of
rest.
Question: Who gave us the Sabbath?
Answer: God. For we read in Genesis 2, verses 1-3 that He rested from the work
of Creation, and ordained, blessed, and sanctified it.
Q: For whose benefit was it given?
A: For all mankind, for the Saviour tells us that the Sabbath was made for man
(Mark 2:27).
Q: How should it be used?
A: We are plainly taught in the Fourth Commandment to keep it holy and to do no
manner of work (Exodus 20:8-11).
Q: But is this not a command for the Jews only?
A: No! It is part of God's eternal and abiding moral law and applies to all
people everywhere, at all times.
Q: May not a part of the Sabbath be spent in worship, and then the remainder of
the day left free for personal pleasure?
A: No. God's command is that the entire day should be kept holy. Hence, morning
and evening worship services (see Acts 20:7).
Q: Are there any positive benefits in keeping the Sabbath in that way?
A: Of course. Rest is gained for the body so that health is maintained. There is
repose for the mind and relief from everyday cares. There is renewal for the
spiritual life of the soul through private and public worship.
Q: Would obedience to God's Law bring blessing?
A: Undoubtedly. In Isaiah 58:13-14 we are told that those who obey will delight
themselves in the Lord — which means that they shall be happy; that they shall
ride upon the high places of the earth — which means they will be held in
great honor; and that He will feed them with the heritage of Jacob — which
means that God will prosper them spiritually.
Q: But what did Christ do and say about the requirements of the Law, especially
about keeping the Sabbath?
A: He kept the Law, but spoke against the petty regulations which had been added
to it by the Pharisees. He said that He was Lord of the Sabbath and He regularly
attended worship on that day (see Mark 2:28 & Luke 4:16).
Q: What else did He do on the Sabbath?
A: He did many works of healing (see Mark 2:23 & 3:1-5) and He walked
quietly through the cornfields with His disciples (on his way to worship).
Q: How does this affect us?
A: In several ways. It shows that works of mercy may be done on the Sabbath, and
that the keeping of the Sabbath does not mean conforming to the petty rules of
the Pharisees; but, primarily it involves our devotion to God and then our
regard for the welfare of others.
Q: But is not the Sabbath a Saturday? Why do you call the first day of the week,
the Lord's Day, a Sabbath?
A: Sabbath means "rest," and God, from the Creation of all things,
requires that one- seventh of man's time belongs to Him. One day is totally set
apart for God — six days for man.
Q: How did the first day of the week come to be the Lord's Day?
A: Because after His death and burial for sinners, our Saviour rose from the
dead on that day.
Q: But why the FIRST day instead of the seventh day?
A: Because the Jewish order of things came to an end with the death of Christ.
And since He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy, He began the new
order of things when He rose from the dead on that first Lord's Day.
Q: How? Did He mark that day out in any special way?
A: Definitely. We read in John 20 of many who had the privilege of meeting the
risen Saviour on that day. He conferred on them the gift of the Holy Spirit and
commissioned them to preach the Gospel.
Q: But may it not have been an incidental that these things came to pass on that
particular day?
A: No, because exactly one week later He met many of the disciples again in very
similar circumstances.
Q: But what happened later?
A: We read in Acts 2 that He sent the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, which
was the first day of the week.
Q: What place did the first day of the week have in the lives of the early
Christians?
A: In Acts 20:6-7, Luke tells us that the disciples met together at Troas to
break bread on the first day of the week, and that Paul preached to them.
Q: Is there any instruction to the disciples about the first day of the week?
A: Yes. Paul directed the members of the church of Corinth to set aside their
monetary gifts of tithes and offerings for the work of the ministry on that day
(1 Corinthians 16:2).
Q: Is the term the "Lord's Day" found in the Bible?
A: Yes. In Revelation 1:10 John tells us that he was "in the Spirit on the
Lord's Day" and that special revelation was given to him.
Q: How ought we to observe the Christian Sabbath?
A: By regular attendance at the House of God; by joining with His people in
praise and prayer; by reading and hearing God's holy and inerrant Word; and by
partaking of the ordinances of Christ: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Q: Is there anything else we can do on that day?
A: We can attend, or teach in, Sunday School or Bible Class; or we may visit the
sick and try to cheer them; and in many other ways we can make known the glad
tidings of the Saviour's love.
Q: What ought we to avoid doing on the Lord's Day — or Sunday as it is called?
A: We should avoid doing work that can be done on a weekday, all shopping,
needless travel, amusements, and worldly pastimes which are not worthy of God's
Holy Day.
Q: Will not Sunday then be a day of gloom?
A: Not at all!!! It can be and should be and will be the happiest of all the
days of the week if we know the Lord Jesus as our risen Saviour and Lord. We
shall then spend the day with Him and with His people, and we shall echo the
words of the Psalmist:
"This is the day the Lord has made: we will rejoice and be glad in
it." (Psalm 118:24)
For further information, please contact:
The Lord's Day Observance Society
6 Sherman Road
Bromily, Kent
England BR1 3JH
Note: This tract was taken from their materials. |