Sabbath Observance: Part 1

INTRODUCTION

Just as the generations of mankind have increased, so many religions have increased. These so-called God’s churches have increased and many kinds of worship have been established by men themselves in the world in our age. Seeing this some people think and say there is no God. Yet a majority of people think and believe surely there is a God, a Creator. A foolish person says in his heart, “There is no God” – says King David. [Psalm 14; 1; 53; 1; 10:4]

There are many religion spread all over the world. All these religions point out that God is the all powerful of all power in this world. Each religion follows their own principles and beliefs, formed by masters of this world. On the other hand we see a religion given to men of this world that should be followed, sent from the Creator Himself. The prophet gave witness to this. Let us call this the Christian religion. The giver of this Christian religion is Christ, the Saviour of mankind.

There are two main days of worship seen in this world and accepted by church-goers. One is based on Biblical principle; other based on the ground of worldly beliefs.

The ten commandments given by God are all bound up equally, but let us think on the fourth commandment in particular. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”.” Work at your job six days a week. But the seventh day is a day of rest in honour of the Lord your God. Exodus 20: 8-10. Why” Because the Lord worked six days and made the sky, the earth, the sea, and every thing in them. And on the seventh day, God rested; the Lord blessed and sanctified the Sabbath ” the day of rest. The Lord made the Sabbath a very special day. Exodus. 20:11. So, we have to respect the command of God in this particular matter. If we do otherwise we reject God”s will, and the result will be the wrath of God upon us. In Matthew it reads, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Isaiah was right when he spoke about you. In other words, Isaiah is saying: These people say they honor me, but they don’t really make me an important past of their lives. Their worship of me is for nothing. The things they teach are only rules that people have made.” Isaiah 29:13; Mathew 15:7,9 ” Please consider these statements. This concerns particularly Sunday worship. Our way to redemption, and the salvation of mankind from sin is by the mercy of God. So, we must follow the instruction of God alone.

“There are but two religions in the world” The one class of religions are those which men have invented, in all of which man saves himself by ceremonies and good works; the other is that one religion which is revealed in the Bible, and which teaches men to look for salvation solely to the free grace of God.” GC, p. 220

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9

“Whoso despiseth the word will be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Timothy 3:16,17

Here we learn to follow the pathway of God. Man follows God for his future, past and present goodness, as shown by God. The above verse emphasizes the importance of Sabbath-keeping taught by God in the Holy Bible.

Part 1: Worship Of God In Eden

The almighty merciful Lord God created every thing that exists in this world, in the span of six days. All the necessities of the living things were also created by Him. And as the crown of His creation, God created man above all, and it was given to man the power to rule over all the creatures God created.

“God made man perfectly holy and happy; and the fair earth, as it came from the creator”s hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse.” SC, p.9

Worship the Creator:

“The duty to worship God is based upon the fact that He is the creator and that to Him all other beings owe their existence. And wherever, in the Bible, His claim to reverence and worship, above the gods of the heathen, is presented, there is cited the evidence of His creative power. “All the gods of the nations are idols: But the lord made the heavens.” Psalm 96:5 “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal” Said the holy one. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who bath created these things.” “Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens: God Himself that formed the earth and made it “I am the Lord: and there is none else!” Isaiah 40:25,26; 45:18 Says the psalmist “know you that the Lord He is God: It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves.” “O come let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Psalm 100:3; 95:6 And the holy beings that worship God in heaven state, as the reason why their homage is due to Him. “Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things.” Revelation 4:11″ GC, pp. 436437

So, all men, created by God, must worship the Lord. God teaches us how and when to worship Him. “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. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3

With the work of creation over, God rested on the seventh day. Because we have to learn lessons from Creator’s actions as a model to follow; we must work for six days, and on the seventh day, Sabbath, we rest and worship Him. Why” “The Sabbath was made for man”” Mark 2:27

Three gifts from Eden

When man was created by God he was given three special gifts. The first of these gifts was, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an helpmeet for him” Genesis 2: 18.The second gift was the power to have dominion over the whole world. The third gift was the Holy Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day of the week. This is very important and particularly special regarding the subject of the day of worship. “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord” Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generation, for a perpetual covenant.” Exodus 31:15, 16

If man was obedient to God and to His holy laws he would have been the emperor of the world. But because he disobeyed the Lord and His commandments, and because man was deceived by the crooked ways of Satan the above-mentioned, highest, precious position was lost to him and the result of this is that mankind became under Satan’s control and became a slave to sin. To set man free from this slavery was the reason why Jesus came to this world as our Redeemer.

Sabbath observance was given to man as vital to him, so that, man should follow the line drawn by God, in order to be without spot and blameless.

Pluralities of Sabbath

“Our heavenly father desires through the observance of the Sabbath to preserve among men a knowledge of Himself. He desires that the Sabbath shall direct our minds to Him as the true and living God, and that through knowing Him we may have life and peace.” 6T, p.349.

“The Sabbath given to the world as the sign of the God as the Creator is also the sign of Him as the Sanctifier. The power that created all things is the power that re-creates the soul in His own likeness. To those who keep holy the Sabbath day it is the sign of sanctification. True sanctification is harmony with God, oneness with Him in character. It is received through obedience to those principles that are the transcript of His character. And the Sabbath is the sign of obedience.” 6T, p.350

“The Sabbath was made for man, to be a blessing to him by calling his mind from secular labor to contemplate the goodness and glory of God. It is necessary that the people of God assemble to talk of Him, to interchange thoughts and ideas in regard to the truths contained in His word, and to devote a portion of time to appropriate prayer.”-2T, p.583.

We need to remember that the observance of the God-given holy Sabbath day must be observed by man with all his heart, might and mind. This the duty of man; this is the will of God. If man fulfills the will of God, wonderful blessings from the heavenly kingdom shall be abundantly showered upon him.

“Speak thou the will of God also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” Exodus 31:13, 16

“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.

We need to follow our Savior Jesus Christ. He says to us “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15

Raj Israel