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Lesson 13

What The Bible Teaches About
The Observance Of The Sabbath

The Correct Way To Respect The Sabbath

1. What did God do with the Sabbath?

Genesis 2:1-3

Genesis 2:1-3 (KJV)
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. 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.

2. On what day should preparations be made?

Exodus 16:22,23

Exodus 16:22,23 (KJV)
22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

3. When does the Sabbath begin?

Leviticus 23:32

Leviticus 23:32 (KJV)
32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

4. What must we abstain from on the Sabbath?

Exodus 20:10

Exodus 20:10 (KJV)
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:

5. Where must we attend on Sabbath?

Luke 4:16

Luke 4:16 (KJV)
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.

6. What can be done on Sabbath?

Matthew 12:12

Matthew 12:12 (KJV)
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Blessings For Those Who Obey God

1. What is God's promise for those who are faithful?

Psalm 37:25

Psalm 37:25 (KJV)
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

2. What protection will God give to those who obey Him?

Deuteronomy 11:13-15

Deuteronomy 11:13-15 (KJV)
13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. 15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.

WHAT MUST I DO?

1. Faithfully obey what God commands.

James 4:17

James 4:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

2. Trust fully in Jesus.

Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

MY RESOLUTION

I decide to be obedient to God and to faithfully keep the holy Sabbath, following Jesus' example.

Addtional Study 13

The Way to Respect the Sabbath. God requires that we cease doing regular work (Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:13-18; Exodus 34:21). We must not buy nor sell (Nehemiah 10:31; 13:15-20). The most appropriate thing is to attend a religious worship service (Leviticus 26:2; Hebrews 10:2-5; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2). It is also good to do acts of goodness (Mark 3:4; Matthew 12:12).

God Helps Those Who Obey Him. It is necessary to do God's will (Matthew 7:21). We have to obey everything God commands (James 2:10). The reason for obedience is love (John 14:15). When we keep the Sabbath we receive the promised blessings (Deuteronomy 11:26, 27; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 37:25; Isaiah 58:13, 14).

The Restoration of the Sabbath

Due to the apostasy of the Christian church, the Sabbath was changed for the "Venerable Day of the Sun", in other words Sunday. But the Holy Bible had predicted that the observance of the holy commandment would be restored by a people that would be called "repairers of the breech" (Isaiah 58:12,13). These people "keep the commandments of God" (Revelation 12:17; Isaiah 66:23).

That is why the Seventh-day Adventist Church respects the day of the Lord. Each Sabbath, in every corner of the world, millions of people gather together to praise and worship God.

Sabbath Worship

The main part of Sabbath celebration is the worship service to God. It takes place in the morning and consists of school for the study of the Holy Bible. Afterwards, comes the worship service, with the main portion being the preaching done by a minister or layperson. The faithful participate actively through song, prayer, Bible reading and offerings. The afternoon is dedicated to rest, reading, meditation, missionary outreach and a meeting for the youth.

What is the Truth?

Since so many millions of Christians observe Sunday as holy, many ask themselves: "Who is right?" It's very easy to resolve. We must ask ourselves with absolute sincerity: "What is the truth?" Then when we have discovered it in the Bible, we have to obey it faithfully.

We know that the Bible contains the truth (John 17:17). The Bible establishes the Sabbath as the only day of rest. And God's word endures forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Jesus is the most pure revelation of the truth. His mission was to "bear witness unto the truth" (John 18:37). And Jesus only kept the Sabbath. He taught us that we are to follow his example (John 13:15, 17). "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

The lay of God is the truth (Psalm 119:142). The law specifies clearly the sacredness of the Sabbath. And the commandments have been established forever (Psalm 119:152).

God is the supreme source of truth; Jesus, the Bible and the law exponents of the truth, and they teach definitely the sacredness of the Sabbath. What shall we do? Hopefully we will say: "I have chosen the way of truth". (Psalm 119:30).

Why Do I Keep the Sabbath?

If someone were to ask us: "Why do you respect the Sabbath?" We could give 6 indisputable reasons.

  1. Because I believe that there is one day of the Lord, the Sabbath (Mark 2:27, 28).
  2. Because I want to be an upright Christian. That is why I have to follow in Jesus' footsteps (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus zealously respected the Sabbath, and He said that He had not come to change the commandments (Matthew 5:17, 18). Therefore, I must respect it.
  3. Because there is no doubt that if Christ, the Virgin Mary and the apostles were on the earth today, they would faithfully keep the Sabbath (Hebrews 13:8).
  4. Because I want to be a faithful child of God; He created the Sabbath.
  5. Because I believe in the Bible. It tells me explicitly that the Sabbath is holy.
  6. Because I want to be with Jesus in heaven. Sabbath will be kept there (Isaiah 66:22, 23).