BIBLICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PART 1. BY: HAROLD E. METCALF

A.)THE MAKING OF THE SABBATH

    The Sabbath of rest is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. Most Christians agree that the observance of a Sabbath is an essential part of the worship of God. Much was involved in the making of the Sabbath.

      It was Jesus Christ. Read John 1:1-3, 10, 14.

NOTE: It is evident according to Hebrews 1:1,2 that God created the world through Christ. Since Christ was the active agent, He made the Sabbath.

    At the time of creation. Read Genesis 2:1-3 and Exodus 20:8-11.

 3. HOW WAS THE SABBATH MADE?

“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 made; and 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.” Genesis 2:1-3.

 4. OF WHAT WAS THE SABBATH MADE?

God made the Sabbath out of a day. The day He used was the seventh day. Read Genesis 2:2, 3.

 5.  WHEN DID THE DAYS OF CREATION WEEK BEGIN            

AND END?

  Read Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, etc. Each day of creation week began at sunset with the dark part, since     darkness was here first, and ended with the following sunset. Therefore, the seventh-day Sabbath is   to be observed from sunset to sunset. Evidently all days were reckoned from sunset to sunset.

6.  FOR WHOM WAS THE SABBATH MADE?

“He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27.

7.  WHO IS THE LORD OF THE SABBATH?

“Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:28.

 8.  FOR HOW LONG WAS THE SABBATH INTENDED TO BE KEPT?

It will be kept throughout eternity. Read Isaiah 66:22, 23.

Conclusion

   The seventh-day Sabbath was made by Jesus Christ at creation. It was to be kept throughout all time, and was to be observed from sunset to sunset.

     Leviticus 23:32 mentions the observance of one the ceremonial Sabbaths, the Day of Atonement, and says it was to be kept “from even unto even.”

B.) THE SABBATH COMMANDMENT

  1.  WHAT IS THE FIRST WORD OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT?

    “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” Exodus 20:8.

    This is the only commandment prefaced by the word “remember.” When God gave the Sabbath He     knew its value and He also knew it would be disregarded by m any. He knew how the devil would       do everything possible to lead men to forget the Sabbath. He knew that men in time would ignore       the binding obligations of this commandment. For these reasons God calls special attention to this     commandment and urges by the use of the word “remember” that it be kept in mind. It is not to be     forgotten.   

2.  WHAT IS GOD’S REASON GIVEN IN THE COMMANDMENT FOR OBSERVING THE               SABBATH?

   The reason given is the example of God. “Six days shalt thou  labour, and do all thy work: but the     seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God:…for in six days the LORD made heaven and    earth,… and rested the seventh day.” Exodus 20:9-11.

    The commandment does not end with the command “Six days shalt thou labor” but it goes on and      says “and do all thy work.” Exodus 20:9.

NOTE: If the work can be done in less than six there is no question. The point is we are to get our work done in six days. And we must never shirk our responsibility while enjoying wholesome recreation. Getting our work done in six days would always make the Sabbath available for rest and communion with God.

  4.  HOW IS THE SABBATH TO BE KEPT?

  “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the        Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own      ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.” Isaiah 58:13.

NOTE: God’s Sabbath day is holy. We must not trample it under feet. We are not to do our own pleasure on it. We are not to pollute it (Ezekiel 20:13, 21).

5. WHAT IS THE CHIEF DEMAND OF THE SABBATH COMMANDMENT?

   “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8. 

NOTE: Cessation from our gainful employment is commanded but this is not all. The day is to be kept holy. Man is to cease “from his own works, as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:10. When a person ceases from his own works he will cease from sin.  It is only such a person who can keep the Sabbath as God expects. This commandment does not suggest idleness on the Sabbath for there are proper activities which are in keeping with its spirit.  

Conclusion

Sabbath keeping is more than the mere observance of a day; it is living a life for God. God asks us to keep the Sabbath for him; to cease from sin; to do that which is good; to meet for worship and to follow the example of Jesus by doing good. Cease from your own works and enter into God’s rest. What a blessing such Sabbath keeping affords!