THE SABBATH AND THE LORD'S DAY
Andrew N. Dugger
(1886-1975)
The most famous Church of God, Seventh Day, leader in the twentieth century.
The Lord's Day
1. What does Christ say of the Sabbath?
"And He said unto them, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath," Mark 2:27.
2. What distinguishes the seventh day of the week from the six working days?
"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," Genesis 2:2.
3. Besides resting on the seventh day, what did God pronounce upon it?
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it," verse 3.
4. Why did God bless and sanctify this day?
"Because that in it He rested from all His work which God created and made," verse 3.
NOTE: The Sabbath was a part of creation, by God Himself, blessing, sanctifying and resting upon this particular day, and it stands as a memorial of the great creative work of the first week of time. The only way to change the Sabbath day, is for the creation to be gone through again, and it is not likely that such will ever be the case.
5. Is it possible for anything to be added to, or for anything to be taken from what God has done?
"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it that men should fear before Him," Ecclesiastes 3:14.
6. Have we any record where the Sabbath was ever kept prior to the giving of the law on Sinai?
"And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a Sabbath unto the Lord; today ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none. See, for that the Lord hath [in the past] given you the Sabbath, therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day," Exodus 16:25, 26 and 29.
NOTE: These things happened several days prior to the giving of the law on Sinai, and it is a fact that cannot be denied.
7. What law did God give for its observance?
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: 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: 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," Exodus 20:8-11.
8. What statement is made herein, which has never been made of any other day?
"The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," verse 10.
9. In what way did the Lord require the Sabbath to be kept?
"Thus saith the Lord; take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers," Jeremiah 17:21, 22.
10. How does Isaiah tell us to keep the Sabbath?
"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, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words," Isaiah 58:13.
11. What is said of the person that keeps the Sabbath?
"Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil," Isaiah 56:2.
12. What is said of the Gentiles that keep the Sabbath?
"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer," Isaiah 56:6, 7.
13. What did the Lord say the Sabbath would be between Him and His people?
"I am the Lord your God; walk in My statues, and keep My judgments, and do them: and hallow My Sabbaths: and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God," Ezekiel 20:19, 20.
14. What was Christ's attitude toward the Sabbath?
"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," Luke 4:16.
15. How was Christ connected with the Sabbath day?
"Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath," Mark 2:28.
16. What work is permissible on the Sabbath?
"And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity; And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God," Luke 13:10-13.
17. In Matthew, how does Christ express the same thought?
"And behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse Him. 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? How much then is a man better than a sheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days," Matthew 12:10-12.
NOTE: Or in other words, it is right and proper to do works of charity to aid the sick and suffering, and even perform acts of mercy in relieving the suffering of animals on that day when necessity demands it.
Some day full soon, sweet Eden's bowers;
May burst upon my raptured sight,
And I shall see the glory land:
Bathed in the Lamb's eternal light.
For He who braved the storm king's wrath;
And stilled the waves of Galilee;
Will safely guide my storm tossed bark,
Across life's dark tempestuous sea.
And though it hath been well revealed;
Where heaven's gold paved highways be;
I know that I shall one day dwell;
With Him whose blood was shed for me.
_ Elder Lewis Buchtel
I love the holy Sabbath day
It does me good to rest
I know I then my Lord obey
Because that day he blest.
And oh, the language is so plain
That all may understand,
Why is it people will not see
And keep this great command?
And Jesus taught the people once
That they should surely pray,
That their flight be not in winter
Neither on the Sabbath day;
For they must leave Jerusalem,
And to the mountains flee
When the cruel Roman army came
To take them all away.
Sabbath Observance
1. In the beginning what was upon the face of the deep?
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," Genesis 1:3.
2. Since darkness covered the deep, how came the light?
"And God said, Let there be light," Genesis 1:3.
3. What was the result?
"And there was light," Genesis 1:3.
4. After light had been brought about what great work did God perform?
"And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness," Genesis 1:4.
5. What name was given the light, and also the darkness?
"And god called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night," Genesis 1:5.
6. By adding the darkness and the light together what do they make?
"And the evening [dark] and the morning [light] were the first day," Genesis 1:5.
7. What words of Christ would teach that it takes both darkness and the light to make one day as set apart by God?
"And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice," Mark 14:30.
8. Have we any proof that these things happened in the dark part of the day?
"He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night," John 13:30.
NOTE: Here we have two statements proving beyond any question of doubt that the night is included in the day, or in other words, it takes both darkness and light to make one complete day, and that this is what God had reference to when He said, "The evening and the morning were the first day,"
9. According to the Bible when does the evening begin?
"But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth of Egypt," Deuteronomy 16:6.
10. Upon one occasion, at what time of day were the sick brought to Christ?
"And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils," Mark 1:32.
NOTE: These scriptures, as well as many others teach, that the going down of the sun is the beginning of the evening, as well as the beginning of the day.
11. Do we find other scriptures teaching the going down of the sun to be the beginning of the evening?
Answer. Yes, Please read the following Scriptures: II Chronicles 18:34; Numbers 9:21; Leviticus 22:6,7; Deuteronomy 23:11; Judges 14:12-18.
12. Concerning the beginning of the Sabbath what does Nehemiah say?
"And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day," Nehemiah 13:19.
13. Which day of the week is the Sabbath day?
"But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," Exodus 20:10.
14. When does this day commence, and at what time does it close?
"From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath," Leviticus 23:32, last part of verse.
15. For how long did God say they should keep the Sabbath?
"Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant," Exodus 31:16.
16. What does Christ say of breaking the commandments?
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven," Matthew 5:19.
"WHOSOEVER KEEPETH THE WHOLE LAW, YET OFFENDS IN ONE POINT IS GUILTY OF ALL"
The Crime of the Dark Ages
1. According to the prophet, what was to be the attitude of Christ toward His Father's law?
"The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make it more honorable," Isaiah 42:21.
2. According to Christ, would any part of the law be done away?
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled," Matthew 5:18.
NOTE: Since we find the heaven and earth here yet, we are compelled to admit that the law of God is yet binding upon the human family, and according to Christ, it will be so long as the heaven and earth are here. These words are in accordance with the prophet when he said, "He will magnify the law and make it honorable,"
3. In connection with the four universal empires as they are pictured to us by the prophet Daniel, what power would arise?
"I considered the horns and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things," Daniel 7:8.
4. What would be one part of the work this power would carry out?
"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them," verse 21.
NOTE: This power is recognized to be the Papacy, or Rome in its Papal form. The Papacy truly made war on the people of God to the extent of nearly sixty million suffered death in all ways possible for them to be put to death.
5. What other noted work would this power think to do?
"And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time," verse 25.
6. What power claims to have changed the law of God?
Answer: The Papacy.
7. What part of the law of God has the Papacy thought to change?
Answer: The fourth, or Sabbath commandment.
NOTE: This power has thought to change a commandment given by God Himself, and one that Christ said would last so long as the heavens and the earth were here.
8. By whom, and in what year do we find the first Sunday law of history?
Answer: By Constantine, and in the year 321 A.D.
9. What does the Encyclopedia Britannica say of the first Sunday law?
"The earliest recognition of the observance of Sunday as a legal duty is a constitution of Constantine in 321 A.D., enacting that all courts of justice, inhabitants of towns, and workshops were to be at rest on Sunday (venerable day of the sun) with an exception in favor of those engaged in agricultural labor," Encyclopedia Britannica, art. Sunday.
10. What do other works say of the same power, and its relation to the institution of Sunday as a rest day?
"Constantine the Great made a law for the whole empire (A.D. 321) that Sunday should be kept as a day of rest in all cities and towns; but he allowed the country people to follow their work," Encyclopedia American, art. Sabbath.
11. What did Constantine's law require?
"Let all judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let all those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest, the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by Heaven."
12. Does the Papacy acknowledge that it has changed the Sabbath?
Answer: It does.
"Question: How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days?"
"Answer: By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which protestants allow of; and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feast days commanded by the same church," Abridgment of Christian Doctrine, by Rev. Henry Tuberville, D.D., of Douay College, France (1649), page 58.
"Question: Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?"
"Answer: Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her, she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no scriptural authority," A Doctrinal Catechism, by Stephen Keenan, page 174.
The Catholic Church of its own infallible authority created Sunday a holy day to take the place of the Sabbath of the old law. Kansas City Catholic, February 9, 1893.
"The Catholic Church . . . by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday," Catholic Mirror, Official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, September 23, 1893.
"Question: Which is the Sabbath day?"
"Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day,"
"Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?"
"Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday," The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, by Peter Gelermann, C. SS. R., page 50, third edition, 1913, a work which received the "apostolic blessing' of Pope Pius X, January 25, 1910.
What was done at the council of Laodicea was but one of the steps by which the change of the Sabbath was effected. This we learn to be a fact from the standpoint of their own works as well as from other sources.
13. Do Catholic authorities acknowledge that there is no command in the Bible for the sanctification of Sunday?
Answer: They do.
NOTE: "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify," _ Cardinal Gibbons, in The Faith of Our Fathers, edition 1892, page 111.
"Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claims to observance can be defended only on Catholic principles . . . . From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first," Catholic Press (Sydney, Australia), August 25, 1900.
14. Do Protestant writers acknowledge the same thing?
Answer: They do.
NOTE: "Is there no express commandment for observing the first day of the week as Sabbath, instead of the seventh day? _ None whatever. Neither Christ, nor His apostles, nor the first Christians celebrated the first day of the week instead of the seventh as the Sabbath," _ New York Weekly Tribune, May 24, 1900.
"The Scriptures nowhere call the first day of the week the Sabbath . . . There is no Scriptural authority for so doing, nor of course any Scriptural obligation," _ The Watchman (Baptist).
"The observance of the first instead of the seventh day rests on the testimony of the church, and the church alone," _ Hobart Church News (Episcopalian), July 2, 1894.
15. How did this change in observance of days come about, suddenly or gradually?
Answer: Gradually.
NOTE: "The Christian church made no formal, but a gradual and almost unconscious transfer of the one to the other,"--The Voice From Sinai, by Archdeacon F.W. Farrar, page 167.
This of itself is evidence that there was no divine command for the change of the Sabbath.
16. For how long a time was the seventh day Sabbath observed in the Christian church?
Answer: For many centuries. In fact, its observance has never wholly ceased in the Christian church.
NOTE: Mr. Morer, a learned clergyman of the Church of England, says: "The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted that they derived this practice from the apostles themselves," _ Dialogues on the Lord's Day, page 189.
Prof E. Brerwood, of Gresham College, London (Episcopal), says: "The Sabbath was religiously observed in the Eastern church three hundred years and more after our Savior's passion," _ Learned Treatise of the Sabbath, page 77.
The historian Socrates, who wrote about the middle of the fifth century, says: "Almost all the churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, refused to do this," _ Ecclesiastical History, book 5, chapter 22.
Sozomen, a historian of the same period, writes: "The people of Constantinople, and of several other cities, assembled together on the Sabbath as well as on the next day; which custom is never observed from Rome," Ecclesiastical History, book 7, chapter 19.
All this would have been inconceivable and impossible had there been a divine command given for the change of the Sabbath. The last two quotations also show that Rome led in the apostasy and in the change of the Sabbath.
17. What do Catholics say of the observance of Sunday by Protestants?
"It was the Catholic Church which, by the authority of Jesus Christ, has transferred this rest to the Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Thus the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the Catholic Church," Plain Talk About Protestantism of Today, by Mgr. Segur, page 213.
18. What kind of worship does the Savior call that which is not according to God's commandments?
"But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men," Matthew 15:9.
The seventh day this book defends,
And to the searching mind it lends
A helping hand, to learn the way,
Which is to keep God's Sabbath day.
For when the six days' work was done,
And all was finished 'neath the sun,
The Lord Himself was pleased to rest;
And hence the seventh day He blest.
The first that dawned o'er all the land,
Just fresh from the Creator's hand,
The Sabbath law God therefore laid,
The Sabbath day for man was made.
The seventh day the Lord hath blest,
And said that in it we should rest,
Can we despise His holy day,
And from His Sabbath turn away?
God's memorial then we'll keep,
And thus remember His great work,
His ten commandments we can't obey,
Unless we keep the seventh day.
_ J. A. Nugent
The Lord's Day
1. On what day was John in the spirit while on the Isle of Patmos?
"I was in the spirit on the Lord's day," Revelation 1:10.
2. What day does Christ say He is Lord of?
"Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath," Mark 2:28.
3. Which day is the Sabbath of the Lord?
"But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," Exodus 20:10.
4. For whom was the Sabbath or Lord's day made?
"And He said unto them: The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath," Mark 2:27.
5. In what age of the world was the Sabbath or Lord's day 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 had made, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which he had made," Genesis 2:1, 2.
6. Did not God bless and sanctify the seventh day?
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it," Genesis 2:3.
7. Why did God bless and sanctify the seventh day?
"Because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made," Genesis 2:3.
8. In the decalogue what is the seventh day called?
"Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," Exodus 20:9, 10.
9. What does Isaiah, speaking for God through the Holy Ghost, call the seventh day Sabbath?
"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My Holy Day," Isaiah 58:13.
10. Was Christ an observer of His own day?
"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," Luke 4:16.
11. On what day of the week did Christ arise from the dead?
"In the end of [R. V. or late on] the Sabbath, as it began to dawn [or draw on] toward the first day of the week," Matthew 28:1.
NOTE: By the above scriptures we not only learn that the Sabbath day is the Lord's day, but we also learn that it was Christ's custom to observe that day, and He also arose from the dead on the Sabbath, or Lord's day.
12. Did the followers of Christ keep the Sabbath or Lord's day?
"And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment," Luke 23:56.
13. Did they observe it after His resurrection?
"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," Acts 17:2. See also Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 18:1-4, 11.
14. Since Paul and Christ were both Sabbath day observers, should we be followers of them?
"Be ye followers of me, [Paul] even as I also am of Christ," I Corinthians 11:1.
15. Was Christ's life to be the light of the world?
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not be in darkness, but shall have the light of life," John 8:12.
Who is on the Lord's side,
Always true?
There's a right and wrong side,
Where stand you?
Thousands on the wrong side
Choose to stand,
Still 'tis not the strong side,
True and grand.
Come and join the Lord's side:
Ask you why? _
Tis the only safe side
By and by.
_ Selected
The Jewish Sabbath and Mosicial Law Abolished
1. In the beginning, what record is given of the first day of the week?
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: And God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day," Genesis 1:3-5.
NOTE: By reading the first five verses of Genesis 1 we learn, that God worked upon the first day of time. It was on this day that light was brought about.
2. In the New testament, how many times do we find the first day of the week mentioned?
Answer: Eight.
3. Do we find it spoken of as a holy or sacred day?
Answer: No.
4. Did Christ use the words first day?
Answer: He did not.
5. How does Matthew speak of the first day?
"In the end of [R.V. late on] the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre," Matthew 28:1.
6. How does Mark speak of the same first day?
"And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Now when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils," Mark 16:2, 9.
7. What does Luke say of the same day?
"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them," Luke 24:1.
8. Concerning a visit to the sepulchre what does John say?
"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre," John 20:1.
9. Does John tell of a first day meeting of Christ and His disciples?
"The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you," John 20:19. Also Luke 24:29.
NOTE: By this scripture we learn that Christ met with his disciples a little while, real late on the first day of the week where they were assembled for fear of the Jews. If the reader will turn to the Bible and read Acts 1:13 and Acts 2:44 they will find it to be the custom of the disciples to live together, and beyond any question of doubt they were thus assembled when Christ appeared to them. Another thing, if Christ meeting with them was a sign of a holy day, we would gather from John 21:1-5, that they also had a holy fishing day.
10. In Acts 20 what do we find regarding the first day of the week?
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight," Acts 20:7.
NOTE: Here we find the second, and last first day meeting recorded in the Bible. It, as the other, was a meeting of the disciples in their own upper room. The context of shows it to be a night meeting, and Paul, after preaching during the night, makes his trip across to Assos the light part of this same day, which would not be an act of sacredness, but rather one of secular work.
11. In the eighth and last time the first day is mentioned, what is said of it?
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come," I Corinthians 16:1, 2.
NOTE: This, the last time the first day is mentioned, stands on the same ground as does the other seven places, nothing said, to lead any one to believe that it is a sacred day of any kind, or that it should be kept holy by any one at any time. The people in this case were not commanded to meet together, but to lay by him (or himself) in store for the poor of Jerusalem.
12. Since Christ and the apostles did not keep the first day, then what day did they observe?
Paul _ "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks," Acts 18:4.
13. How long did he continue at this place?
"And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them," Acts 18:11. Seventy-eight Sabbaths.
14. Was it Paul's custom so to do?
"And Paul as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures," Acts 17:2.
15. What was Christ's attitude toward the Sabbath?
"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," Luke 4:16.
16. Is it safe to follow Christ?
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life," John 8:12.
New Testament Sabbath
1. In what order does the Sabbath and the first day of the week stand in the New Testament?
"In the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre," Matthew 28:1.
2. After the crucifixion, what day was kept by the women who followed Jesus?
"And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment," Luke 23:56.
3. "According to the commandment" what day is the Sabbath?
"But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work," Exodus 20:10.
4. Why is the seventh day the Sabbath?
"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," Exodus 20:11.
5. How did the holy women regard the first day of the week?
"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them," Luke 24:1.
NOTE: In this reading we see the women brought the spices which they had prepared with which to embalm the body of Jesus, and this was on the first day of the week. In reading about the Sabbath day visit we find no spices were brought with which to embalm His body, and this alone should be proof that the holy women had respect for the Sabbath which God had blessed.
6. What was the custom of Christ in regard to the Sabbath?
"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," Luke 4:16.
7. In predicting the overthrow of Jerusalem, and the necessity of fleeing from Judea prior to that time, what did he enjoin upon His disciples regarding the Sabbath?
"But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day," Matthew 24:20.
NOTE: The destruction of Jerusalem was accomplished by the Romans in the year 70 A.D. Therefore, the Sabbath was binding in that age by the commandment of Christ Himself.
8. On what day did the Jews meet in the synagogues for worship?
"For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day," Acts 15:21.
9. To whom was Paul especially commissioned to preach?
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel," Acts 9:15.
10. On what day did he and Barnabas go into the synagogue at Antioch?
"But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down," Acts 13:14.
11. After the sermon had been preached by Paul, and the Jews had left the synagogue, what did the Gentiles request of the apostles?
"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath," verse 42.
12. What was the result of this request?
"And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God," verse 44.
13. On what day did the women at Philippi hold their prayer-meetings?
"And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont [or accustomed] to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither," Acts 16:13.
14. What was Paul's manner regarding the Sabbath?
"They came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," Acts 17:1, 2.
15. While at Corinth how did the apostle Paul spend the Sabbath?
"After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth . . . and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks [or Gentiles]," Acts 18:1-4.
16. How long did he continue at this work in this place?
"And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them," verse 11.
17. Are we admonished to be followers of the apostle Paul as he was of Christ?
"Be ye followers of Me, even as I also am of Christ," I Corinthians 11:1.
18. Will we be in darkness if we follow Christ?
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," John 8:12.
19. On what day does Paul say God rested from His works?
"For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works," Hebrews 4:4.
20. Does this same Sabbath rest remain for the people of God?
"There remaineth therefore a rest [margin, keeping of a Sabbath] to the people of God," Hebrews 4:9.
21. Should we be followers of god?
"Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children," Ephesians 5:1.
22. Should we cease from our works as God did from His?
"For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief," Hebrews 4:10, 11.
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