Lesson 12 - Part 1

Bible Correspondence Course Lesson 12 - Part 1 Christianity Is A Way Of Life

Christianity is indeed a way of life. There is no more well established fact in all of the Bible. But what, specifically, is that way, and how may we successfully live it? The book of Acts chronicles the history of the early New Testament Church of God. It hits the high spots of the major events in briefest summary form. And in it Luke, the author, attests to the fact that to live the life of a certain way—to do certain things—to conform to certain standards.

Apollos was an early Christian who was an excellent speaker, being extremely well versed in Old Testament scriptures. He preached boldly. However, he was very much in need of better understanding—he did not quite have the whole picture. It remained for a dedicated couple in the Church of God to fill in the details.

Notice the account in Acts 18:26:" ... whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him [Apollos] unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly" (emphasis ours throughout lesson). Real Christianity then, as detailed in the Bible, is a "way" of life—God’s way!

Roots in the Old Testament

Royalty, heads of state, and government officials in the apostle Paul’s day recognized Christianity as a distinct pattern of life. Paul, under house arrest, defended his way of life—the Christian way—to the procurator of Judaea. Notice Felix’s reaction to Paul’s words: "And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them [put off any immediate action]... " (Acts 24:22).

Earlier Paul had explained to Felix: "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" (Acts 24:14). A vital point: The Christian way of life has its roots in the Old Testament. It is established on the Ten Commandments, as well as other laws of God which are based on principles of the "basic ten." Though far from being devoid of pleasure, God’s way definitely is not a nihilistic, libertine course in conventional pleasure-seeking.

God’s way of life is the sensible way to live practically and abundantly in areas such as successfully managing your finances, building and beautifying your marriage, and even how to protect your health. Simply stated, God’s law is the way to all the GOOD THINGS in life—to peace, happiness, and ultimately an eternal life of satisfying accomplishment.

God’s Great Law the Standard The apostle James refers to the Ten Commandments as the "royal law of liberty" (James 2:8-12). That is because they free their adherents from the bondage of the hurtful ways of this world. The Ten Commandments also clearly reveal the great love God has for His human children. They are a reflection of the perfect character of God which can be summed up in the word love, for "God is love" (1 John 4:16).

John, often referred to as the "apostle of love," wrote: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3,RSV).

Before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ told His disciples, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10). God’s love and His law fit hand in glove. They do not oppose each other as some have been misled to believe. As Jesus plainly stated, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). The "Test" Commandment

Most who profess to be Christians today partially keep the Ten Commandments to one degree or another. But the fourth commandment has never been popular with this world’s churches.

Few realize that the observance of the Sabbath day is one of the most important "signs" which identify a true Christian—one who follows the example of Christ. The Bible shows that the fourth commandment is the test commandment! The Christian’s keeping of the true Sabbath is an illustration to God of his serious commitment to live by His Word.

We saw in our previous studies that God defines a Christian as one whom He has begotten by His Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11). In a powerful sermon not long after that memorable day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47), Peter pointed out something most vital concerning the receiving of God’s Spirit. Notice Acts 5:32:"And we are witnesses to these things [Christ as Savior], and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him" (RSV). A willing and obedient attitude is one of the things God looks for in a potential Son of His. God inspired Isaiah to write: " ...to this man will I look, even to him that is poor [humble] and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word" (Isaiah 66:2). A Christian will therefore want to obey the fourth commandment!

Keeping the Sabbath sometimes involves considerable faith on the part of God’s people. With the flow of this world’s values, cultures and interests cascading in the opposite direction, it is not always easy to swim upstream. But the blessings are manifold to those who have the courage and faith to observe the seventh-day Sabbath.

Special Annual Days

Inasmuch as the seventh commandment against adultery includes, in principle, prohibition of all forms of illicit sexual conduct, so the fourth commandment, by amplification, includes other special God-ordained days which were given to Israel when the Old Testament Church began in the wilderness. As the weekly Sabbath is holy time to God, so are seven annual Sabbath days holy to God—all for a very good reason. The seventh-day Sabbath looks backward as a memorial to remind us of the fact that God is Creator, Ruler, Sustainer; and it looks forward to Christ’s coming rule in the Millennium when mankind will experience "rest" from war, poverty, fear and suffering. It also reveals that God has a great and wonderful purpose and a plan for all of mankind! The seven annual Sabbaths/festivals give the overview of the working out of God’s plan for man step by step. The reason man’s full, awesome potential is not understood by the professing Christian world today is because most churches have neglected the very days God says are holy to Him. A Little Known Financial Law The weekly Sabbath and each of the annual Sabbaths are special times committed to physical rest and spiritual worship of God. In a sense we give these portions of time back to God. As we do we are rewarded with greater understanding of His way, even as we are rejuvenated and renewed physically and spiritually on these days.

Likewise, God requires that His children return a portion of their income for His use and purpose on this earth. Even though the Creator God is not limited by physical resources, He has always conducted a Work among and through human beings. Today, God desires that Christians have an active role with Him in introducing the knowledge of His way to others by helping finance His Work on earth.

Long ago, even during the time of Abraham, God used the tithing (or "tenthing") system to underwrite His Work for that time. His Church in the twentieth century employs the very same method to conduct His Work of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. The act of tithing gives us the opportunity to express our recognition of God’s sovereignty and lordship over the entire earth, and over each of us individually. It is an expression of our willing and cheerful adherence to the first and great commandment—worshipping the true God and Him only. And as with observance of the weekly and annual Sabbath days, the man or woman who fulfills God’s financial law of tithing will reap the inevitable physical and spiritual blessings promised in His Word.

Obedience and Overcoming

Although the true Christian strives to be obedient to all the laws of God, he knows he cannot obey them perfectly. He soon discovers he still has besetting and recurring sins, as well as bad habits that are not easy to cast aside. The Christian life, as revealed in the Bible, is one of overcoming and growing spiritually toward the goal of being spiritually mature like Christ. Through our studies we learned that this final change to immortal, spiritual perfection will occur at the resurrection of the dead in Christ. In the meantime, God expects Spirit-begotten Christians to be developing more and more of the very character of Christ as they learn to follow His way of life. But overcoming and conquering sin is impossible by human strength alone. It must be accomplished in partnership with God by the very faith of Christ—a gift from God through His Holy Spirit which He promises to give us upon repentance and baptism. As Christians, we will still, through temptation, sometimes stumble spiritually and sin. But our loving and most merciful Father in heaven is ready and willing to forgive and restore us to the right path of overcoming and growing—if we will acknowledge our sins and ask His forgiveness.

How beautiful, encouraging and rewarding is the way of God when we understand it!

Now, let’s look further into the vital details of what the Christian way of life is really all about.

LESSON 12 What Is a Real Christian?

What is a real Christian? Could you give the Bible definition? Few have studied the Bible to learn what God expects of them. A precious few know what the Christian way of life is really all about.

Jesus gave us the very basis of real Christianity in what is commonly called the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew, chapters 5-7). This occasion actually started out as a private, personal lesson He gave to His disciples (students or learners). Jesus pointed out those characteristics, often called "beatitudes," which would clearly identify His true followers.

Before we pick up the story in Matthew 5:1-48 and focus on a few specific aspects of biblical Christianity, we suggest that you first read the entirety of chapters Matthew 5:1-48, Matthew 6:1-34 and Matthew 7:1-29.

1. What did Jesus say belongs to the poor in spirit? Matthew 5:3.When He spoke of the "poor in spirit," did He mean that they would be lacking the Spirit of God? Romans 8:9;Luke 11:13.

COMMENT: No, Jesus isn’t suggesting that they must lack God’s Spirit, as did the five foolish virgins in the parable of Matthew 25:1-46. Rather, He went on to show that those who are truly humble in attitude of mind would be blessed and assured of being in God’s Kingdom.

2. What are the meek in Christ destined to inherit? Matthew 5:5.Was Jesus "meek"? Matthew 11:29.Will a Christian exhibit the characteristic of meekness in the way he conducts his daily life? Ephesians 4:1-2.

COMMENT: There is a difference between being meek and being weak. Jesus was meek but not weak! He endured abuse and injury with patience and without resentment. He didn’t deliberately try to stir up arguments and trouble. A meek person will not try to justify the self, especially when he is wrong. Neither does he feel he is superior to others. He does not try to "get even" with others, nor get revenge.

3. What will a true follower of Christ—a Christian—be "thirsting" for? Matthew 5:6.What is the Bible definition of "righteousness"? Psalms 119:172. Did Jesus come to destroy God’s great law, or to keep it? Matthew 5:17-19.

COMMENT: To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to yearn and be deeply motivated to be obedient to God—to keep His laws, which are given to us in loving concern for our own good.

Those who are truly hungering and thirsting for righteousness will be studying for true understanding, and will be willing to change when they see they’ve been wrong, admitting their wrong beliefs, their mistakes, their sins. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God..." (2 Timothy 2:15), wrote Paul to Timothy. "Prove all things..." (1 Thessalonians 5:21), Paul said to the Thessalonians.

4. Who did Paul say are justified before God—the hearers or the doers of God’s law? Romans 2:13.Did Paul make it plain that even though the unmerited pardon of our sins is by the grace of God through faith in Christ’s sacrifice, nevertheless a Christian is still obligated to God to keep His law? Read Romans 3:31 and all of Romans 6:1-23.

5. Who did Jesus say will enter the Kingdom of God? Matthew 7:21.What did the apostle Paul plainly say was most important for a Christian to be doing? 1 Corinthians 7:19.

COMMENT: Notice that in order to enter God’s Kingdom, there is DOING required—not just the confession of Christ as our Savior. God is also very much concerned about our spiritual "works" after becoming a Christian. He makes it plain that we cannot make it into the Kingdom of God just by sitting back and thinking Christ has done it all for us.

6. Unless we have the love of God, can we really be a Christian? Read all of 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (the word "charity" in the King James translation means love). What are we when we lack the love of God? 1 Corinthians 13:2.

7. Will God’s love, which He imparts through His Spirit, lead one to keep His Ten Commandments—all ten of them? Romans 13:8-10.In what way did God inspire John to confirm Paul’s statement—what is the Bible definition of God’s love? 1 John 5:2-3.How is God’s love perfected in one? 1 John 2:5. A Christian "Walks" with God

1. Is a Christian one who strives to follow Christ—to imitate His example- to "walk" with Him? 1 Peter 2:21;1 John 2:6.

2. Who is one of the first men in the Bible who "walked" with God? Genesis 5:22-24.What else are we told about Enoch? Hebrews 11:5,last part. Will he be in the resurrection? Hebrews 11:13,Hebrews 11:39-40.

3. What other great patriarch walked with God in the antediluvian world? Genesis 6:9.Did Noah therefore find grace in God’s sight? Verse 8. Was Noah clearly a faithful and righteous man, pleasing before God? Hebrews 11:7.

4. What was God’s command to Abraham? Genesis 17:1.Why could it be said that he did indeed walk with God? Genesis 26:5;Hebrews 11:8-10.

5. Was God also Abraham’s friend and companion? 2 Chronicles 20:7;Isaiah 41:8;James 2:23.Did God talk with Abraham as a close friend would? Genesis 18:17-19,23-33. (Recall from your previous studies that the "Lord" of the Old Testament was in reality the member of the God Family who later became Jesus Christ.) 6. Did God also talk with Moses as with a close friend? Exodus 33:11;Numbers 12:7-8;Deuteronomy 34:10.

7. How can we become one of Jesus Christ’s friends? John 15:14-15.

COMMENT: True friends walk together and talk together freely, without fear or embarrassment. They think much alike, and are in agreement, or else they are not real friends (Amos 3:3).

8. Did God specifically command His Church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38)-- the nation of Israel—to walk in His ways; that is, to obey His laws? Deuteronomy 5:32-33;Deuteronomy 8:6;Deuteronomy 10:12;Deuteronomy 11:22;Deuteronomy 13:4;Deuteronomy 26:17;Deuteronomy 28:9.

9. Did God promise to walk with them if they walked with Him? Leviticus 26:3,Leviticus 26:12. Would He greatly bless them if they walked with Him? Leviticus 26:4-11.

10. But if the people of Israel chose to walk contrary to God—refused to walk in His ways—what did God say would happen to them? Leviticus 26:14-39.

COMMENT: To walk with God clearly means to obey His commandments and laws, and to do those things which are pleasing in His sight (Leviticus 26:1-3;1 John 3:22). It is the only way to really be a Christian!

11. What will be a Christian’s attitude toward the sinning society around him? 1 John 2:15-17;1 Peter 4:1-4;Revelation 18:4.What will he rather be striving to live by? Matthew 4:4.

COMMENT: A Christian will no longer be able to conscientiously follow all the customs and practices of the society around him. Where he formerly "went along with the crowd" in all social activities and business practices, he will now begin to question his lifestyle. He will begin asking, "What is God’s will? How does God say I should live?" He will begin saying, with Christ, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." And he will begin to diligently search the Bible to learn the will of God, and follow it. Of course, God’s people must live in this world (John 17:15). And even while striving to fully obey God—not being conformed to this world’s ways (Romans 12:1-2)--they should strive to "...live peaceably with all men" (verse 18). And if a Christian has to disagree because of biblical teaching, he does so without being disagreeable and self-righteous about it.

While not "of the world" in the sense that Christ meant, those men and women of God having the Holy Spirit and a knowledge of His truth and abundant way of life, have a responsibility to be bright "lights" in the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Far from just "quietly glowing" like a 25-watt light bulb, or hiding their light "under a bushel," God’s people should be exhibiting the "fruit," or characteristics, of God’s Holy Spirit within them. They can reach out with friendliness and with a helping hand towards their neighbors and those they come in contact with every day. People not as yet called of God will be encouraged as they see a little of the mind and character of God in action through the living example set by individual Christians.

12. What steps has a Christian already taken to be recognized by God as one of His children? Acts 2:38.What has God bestowed upon him as a free and unearned gift according to his obedience? Same verse and Acts 5:32.("Holy Ghost" is an archaic rendering in the King James Version and should rather read "Holy Spirit.")

COMMENT: A Christian has been conquered by God. His "carnal," naturally antagonistic attitude toward God (Romans 8:7-8)is now broken. He has come to realize he had sinned against God, having broken His Holy, righteous law (1 John 3:4). Therefore he cried out to God and asked His forgiveness for those sins through the sacrifice of Christ, and a lifting of the death penalty which every sin incurs (Romans 6:23). Then he submitted to the ordinance of baptism which illustrated to God his deep sincerity. And as he expected God to stand behind His promise to beget him spiritually by the Holy Spirit, as a result of his repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands, he was indeed imbued by the Spirit of the Father and became a spiritually begotten child of God. It was then that he became a TRUE Christian ! (Romans 8:9-10.)

13. What does God call the person who claims to "know" Christ, but refuses to walk in His ways—refuses to keep His commandments? 1 John 2:4.What will the one who says he is a Christian actually be doing? 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:5-6. How does this corroborate Solomon’s summation of every individual’s responsibility to God? Ecclesiastes 12:13.

COMMENT: A Christian has sincerely repented of his sins and is striving, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to LIVE by his Savior’s teachings. He is seeking to do God’s will in every aspect of his life as revealed in the Bible. And he is becoming a recipient of the happiness and blessings that come with obedience to God! The Ten Commandments The Jesus Christ of your Bible always preached the gospel of the government (or kingdom) of God. He proclaimed: "...repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Over and over again the Bible teaches repentance from sin, which is the breaking of God’s great spiritual law (1 John 3:4)summed up in ten great universal principles—the Ten Commandments. As we have already learned in our study of the Bible, repentance is the first step toward salvation. Before God will forgive our sins, we must repent of (turn from) breaking His law.

Solomon concluded: "... Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13.) Modern man is frustrated and incomplete because he lacks the living, vital contact with God that can come only by obedience to His Commandments!

Let’s review several vital facts about the Ten Commandments, and see how they apply to the Christian way of life.

1. Are all ten of God’s commandments conveniently listed for us in the Bible? Exodus 20:1-17;Deuteronomy 5:6-21.

2. Since neither of the two previous biblical listings of the Decalogue is numbered in the text, how may we know that there are ten? Exodus 34:28;Deuteronomy 4:13;Deuteronomy 10:4.

COMMENT: It is interesting to note that the second commandment is omitted from some early non-biblical listings, and the tenth commandment arbitrarily divided into two parts to make the number add up to ten. But it is not logical to divide the commandment against coveting into two parts consisting of not coveting 1) our neighbor’s wife and 2) our neighbor’s house. The last phrase of number ten plainly summarizes both aspects of coveting by telling us not to covet "any thing that is thy neighbor’s" (Exodus 20:17). It is evident that Paul understood this commandment by his simple statement: "Thou shalt not covet" (Romans 7:7). (If you haven’t done so already, be sure to send for our free booklet, The Ten Commandments, for a much more detailed study of all ten points.)

3. Did the patriarch Abraham—the "father" of the faithful (Romans 4:16)-- think it was important to keep God’s commandments? Genesis 26:5.What was the prophet David’s attitude toward obeying God’s law? Read Psalms 119:1-176 in its entirety.

COMMENT: Both Abraham and David were commandment keepers. They had great respect for God’s law. That is one of the reasons why they will both hold very responsible positions in the future government of God on earth.

David wrote: "O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalms 119:97). David’s daily habit was to ponder and study God’s law. It was a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path (Psalms 119:1-5). His obedience to God’s commandments made him wiser than his enemies (Psalms 119:98). Throughout this Psalm, David declared how he loved God’s law and used it as a guide in his life.

4. Did Jesus Christ Himself obey the Ten Commandments? John 15:10.Did He teach others to obey them? Matthew 19:17-19.

COMMENT: These verses in Matthew 19:1-30 clearly show that Jesus specifically meant the Ten Commandments. He knew that God’s ten-point law would bring peace, fulfillment and joy to any individual or nation that would choose to obey it.

5. Does the Bible show that the very church Jesus built would today be teaching obedience to, and literally endeavoring to keep, the Ten Commandments and other instructions of Christ? Revelation 12:17;Revelation 14:12. (Revelation 12:1-17 personifies God’s Church as a woman.)

COMMENT: The Worldwide Church of God today upholds God’s law. It recognizes that God set in motion a law that, to the degree it is obeyed, would bring humanity every good thing—abundant well-being—a full life. God’s Church says with David: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105). It recognizes that God’s law is one of His greatest gifts to mankind.

6. Is the law of God holy, just and good? Romans 7:12.Does peace of mind come from keeping the Ten Commandments? Psalms 119:165.

COMMENT: No one who consistently breaks God’s law can have real peace of mind. He will have fears and frustrations, and often a guilty conscience. But the person who keeps God’s laws has a clear conscience. He is at peace with God, with himself, and with his neighbor. He has "the peace of God which passeth all understanding" (Php 4:7). The law of God is the way to peace, to happiness, to joy. It is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind—given to make man happy, to lead him into the full, abundant life, to protect his happiness and lead him into eternal life. All the evil extant in the world today is caused by disobedience to the Creator’s laws.

7. How did Jesus expand the keeping of the Ten Commandments? Matthew 5:21-22,Matthew 5:27-28. Did John understand this principle? 1 John 3:15.Did Paul understand the spiritual aspects of God’s law? Romans 7:14.

COMMENT: Contrary to the belief of some, Jesus came not to do away with the Ten Commandments, but to teach and show by example how to live by the spiritual intent of the law. In Old Testament times God required only a physical, mechanical and visible obedience from the "church." In other words, obedience only in the letter. This, as we know, was because the Old Testament Church of God—the nation of Israel—was not given opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit to help them obey the spiritual intent of the Ten Commandments, as well as the letter of the law. But in New Testament times God has made His Holy Spirit available. He desires that His Spirit-begotten children follow Him in the spirit—the fullness—of His law. To be sure His disciples of all ages understood this new, "magnified" (Isaiah 42:21)style of law keeping, Jesus singled out the commandments barring murder and adultery as vivid examples. He taught that now we are not only to abstain from the physical acts of murder and adultery, but we are also to eschew hatred and adultery in our thoughts as well.

Hatred against another human being is the spirit of murder. Sexual lust is the spirit of adultery. Christ extended the influence of God’s commandments to include our innermost thoughts and attitudes. Let’s notice how the Bible shows this seemingly impossible task can be accomplished, albeit still imperfectly because of our humanity.

8. How did Jesus Christ of Nazareth sum up the great Ten-Commandment Law of God? Matthew 22:36-40.What is the basic characteristic of God’s very nature and character? 1 John 4:16.

COMMENT: The Ten Commandments are expressions of the divine love of God because they reflect the very character of God, which is summarized by the word love. This love, as we learned in the previous lesson, is not just another form of human love, but the divine love that comes directly from God through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Since God is love, Jesus showed that the whole spiritual intent and purpose of God’s law is love. The first four commandments show us how to love God, while the last six of the Ten Commandments show us how to love our neighbor—all fellow human beings.

9. If we possess and exercise God’s Spirit, will the love of God that it imparts enable us to "fulfill"—to obey—God’s spiritual laws? Romans 5:5;Romans 13:10.

COMMENT: The divine love of God imparted to human beings by the Holy Spirit is expressed within the bounds of God’s law—the Ten Commandments. It is manifested first of all in adoration and worship of God and literal obedience to Him; and then in outgoing concern, compassion, kindness and service toward other human beings. The love of God enables us to fulfill the spirit of the law. It was the very tool that Jesus Christ used to intensify, magnify and fulfill the law Himself. As the apostle Paul explained: " ...he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, you shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:8-10,RSV). (More about how God helps us to keep His spiritual laws will be covered later in this lesson.)

10. Could there be any truth whatsoever in the widespread belief that love fulfills the law of God in such a way that the keeping of it is no longer necessary? 1 John 5:2-3;John 14:15;John 15:9-10;2 John 1:5-6.

COMMENT: The apostle John placed a great deal of importance upon love. But never did he or any other inspired writer of Scripture say that love put away, superseded or destroyed the law of God. John, who was a close friend and disciple of Jesus Christ, made it plain that one who truly has the love of God is obeying all of the commandments of God.

11. Is it possible to "earn" one’s salvation through obedience to God? Romans 6:23.And yet, can anyone enter God’s Kingdom as a lawbreaker? Matthew 7:21;Matthew 19:17-19.

COMMENT: A word of qualification is necessary here. We are not saying that you can "earn" your salvation by keeping either the Ten Commandments or any other law of God for that matter. Eternal life is clearly a gift from God! No man or woman could earn it in ten thousand lifetimes of keeping the Ten Commandments! But neither can you enter into eternal life as a lawbreaker! (Romans 6:23.) Jesus Christ plainly and emphatically stated that as Christians we are to endeavor to keep the Ten Commandments with our whole beings and His spiritual help, trusting in Him to mercifully apply His sacrifice in our behalf when and where we fall short, and as we repent (1 John 1:7-9).

"Remember the Sabbath Day" The majority of churches today envision Sunday as having replaced the seventh-day Sabbath. Somehow they have come to assume that the fourth commandment is no longer applicable in what they call the "New Testament Dispensation." Then there are those who feel that it is not necessary to keep any specific day as a Sabbath at all. To them, every day is a "spiritual" Sabbath.

Let’s look directly into the Word of God for the truth about this key commandment.

1. When, how and by whom was the Sabbath "made"? Genesis 2:1-3;Mark 2:28.

COMMENT: Jesus Christ is the "Lord of the Sabbath because He made it! (Recall from our past studies that Christ is the "Lord" of the Old Testament, and the Creator of all things.)

Christ "created" the Sabbath by the act of resting on the seventh day of creation week. He put His divine favor upon and set apart for a special use and purpose a 24-hour period of time that was to occur once every seven days following that first Sabbath.

2. For whom did Jesus say the Sabbath was specifically made? Mark 2:27.

COMMENT: "The Sabbath was made for man," declared Jesus. It was made far less than a day after man himself was created. The Sabbath was set apart at Creation for the benefit of all mankind. (Since Adam was the first man, he therefore stood as the representative of the whole human race which has descended from him.) 3. How did Christ intend the Sabbath to serve man’s needs? Exodus 20:8-11;Deuteronomy 5:12-15.

COMMENT: Notice that God made the seventh day of the week holy—and He commands us to keep it that way. The Sabbath, then, is holy time. And it was made to be a great blessing for all humanity. The word "Sabbath" means "rest" in the original Hebrew. Simple physical and mental rest and refreshment after a grueling work week is an obvious reason for the Sabbath. Human beings need periodic rest and deliverance from the trials and troubles that seem to result from "just living." Man needs a retreat from the normal routine, time off in which to rest and reflect, to be recharged, reenergized and restored physically. But the true meaning and purpose of the Sabbath goes far beyond physical, mental and perhaps even emotional respite. For the seventh-day Sabbath is inextricably interwoven into God’s transcendent purpose for creating man in the first place.

Modern man desperately needs this period of time in which to have spiritual union with God. Time in which to think more about God, to worship Him (both in private and in fellowship with others), to meditate upon man’s place in the universe and grasp more fully the PURPOSE for his existence.

4. Was the observance of the Sabbath day to be a special "sign" of identification between God and His people Israel? Exodus 31:13-17.

COMMENT: A quick review of a portion of Israel’s history is in order at this point. Recall that the Israelites had been the slaves of Egypt for several hundred years. While in Egypt, Israel was forbidden to worship the true God. They were forced to work seven days a week. Consequently, they forgot God’s laws and the knowledge of the true Sabbath day which they had received from their progenitors Jacob (renamed Israel), Isaac and Abraham.

After God miraculously delivered Israel from the hands of their cruel taskmasters, He revealed the exact seventh day to them by supplying a double portion of manna on the sixth day of the week (Friday) and withholding it on the seventh day (Saturday), and commanding them to rest on that day (Exodus 16:22-26). (Recall also that the miracle of the manna continued for their entire 40-year sojourn in the wilderness—Exodus 16:35) After revealing the true Sabbath day, God codified the Sabbath commandment at Mount Sinai by including it as one of the ten great commandments which He wrote on two tables of stone. In order that Israel would especially remember that the eternal God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Supreme Ruler over all His creation, God singled out Sabbath observance as the one great "sign" by which they could always be reminded of who He is, and who they were.

Many other nations had laws which paralleled some of the laws of God. Some had fairly tight moral laws, usually criminal ones (i.e. against murder, stealing). But none had a law requiring them to keep the Creator’s Sabbath day. Therefore it was the one law of God which would make Israel stand out. And so God doubly commanded Sabbath observance by making a separate covenant with His people Israel. (The Sabbath was already one of the Ten Commandments which were given to Moses shortly before.) It was to be an everlasting covenant (Exodus 31:16), and would identify the people of God.

Likewise today, the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath is one of the "signs" which helps to identify those who compose the true church of God on earth.

5. Doesn’t the Bible plainly reveal that a real Christian is one who has become a spiritual Israelite—has become one of Abraham’s "seed" through Jesus Christ? Galatians 3:28-29;Romans 4:16;Romans 9:4.

COMMENT: God made the special Sabbath covenant with Abraham’s physical "seed." It was to be obeyed throughout their generations. Today, all Spirit-begotten Christians have become Abraham’s spiritual "seed" through faith in Christ, and are therefore under. the same obligation to keep the Sabbath day!

6. Was Jesus Christ a Sabbath keeper? Luke 4:16,Luke 4:31.

COMMENT: Jesus regularly attended the local synagogue on the Sabbath in His own town "as His custom was." He met with them in fulfillment of His own command to convoke for worship services every Sabbath day (Leviticus 23:3). This is the day He would obviously observe since He is the One who originally made the Sabbath and ordained that it be kept holy!

7. Is there biblical evidence that the early New Testament church also observed the Sabbath? Acts 13:13-15,Acts 13:42-44;Acts 14:1;Acts 17:1-2;Acts 18:1-11.

8. Was it Paul’s "manner" (Acts 17:2), even as it was Christ’s "custom" (Luke 4:16), to keep the Sabbath because he felt like it, or because Jesus Christ dwelt in him? Galatians 2:20.Does Christ’s will remain the same forever? Hebrews 13:8.

COMMENT: It is quite plain that the apostle Paul observed the Sabbath day. And if Christ lives His life in us today through the Holy Spirit as He did in Paul, then we will also be keeping the same day Jesus and Paul kept!

9. What are all Christians warned in Hebrews 3:8-13?Was rebellion, especially Sabbath breaking, the reason God prevented those ancient Israelites from entering His "rest"? Ezekiel 20:12-13,Ezekiel 20:15-16.

COMMENT: Because Israel had become rebellious and polluted His Sabbaths, God did not allow that generation to enter the Promised Land—a symbolic type of the Kingdom of God. Those Israelites under Moses were on their way to the Promised Land, even as God’s Spirit-begotten people today are aiming at the goal of entering into God’s Kingdom. That is what the writer is saying in Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4! Let’s notice further: The word "rest" in Hebrews 3:11 is translated from the Greek katapausis and is defined as "rest" or "place of rest." As used in this verse, it denoted for ancient Israel the rest from the rigors of the wilderness by entering the Promised Land. This is a TYPE of the Christian’s spiritual rest—being born into the KINGDOM OF GOD—made immortal!

10. Was it primarily because of their unbelief that the Israelites disobeyed, and therefore were prevented from entering God’s "rest" for them—the land of Palestine? Hebrews 3:19;Hebrews 4:1-2.

COMMENT: Because the Israelites disbelieved God and therefore lacked faith in Him, they "hardened their hearts." They went on to profane God’s Sabbaths when He made that the very testing point ("that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no"—Exodus 16:4); therefore God said of that generation, "They shall not enter my rest." And none, but faithful Joshua and Caleb of that generation, did enter the Promised Land. But the children born along the way during the 40 years did enter with Joshua. God had originally promised this land to Abraham for his descendants, and regardless of Israelite sins, God was bound by His promise.

Notice that before the second generation of Israelites crossed the Jordan River into Palestine Joshua said to the men of three tribes: " ... The Eternal your God bath given you REST, and bath given you this land" (Joshua 1:13).

11. But if New Testament Christians believe, and obey God, may they enter their "rest"—eternal "rest" in God’s Kingdom? Hebrews 4:3,first nine words.

COMMENT: The equation is very clear: Real belief in God equals active obedience! If a person truly believes God’s Word, he will be obeying it.

12. Will true believers be keeping God’s weekly Sabbath day as a symbol of their future rest in God’s Kingdom? Hebrews 4:9.

COMMENT: The vital meaning of this verse has been obscured by the King James rendering of the word "rest." Everywhere else in chapters 3 and 4 of the epistle to the Hebrews, the English word "rest" is translated from the Greek word katapausis. However, in Hebrews 4:9, "rest" is translated from the Greek sabbatismos, meaning the keeping of the Sabbath.

So, because of the future "rest" (katapausis)--the Kingdom of God- spiritual Israel is to enter, there remains for them a sabbatismos—a keeping of the Sabbath day. This means that Christians will enter the future "rest" of God’s Kingdom even as they now keep the weekly Sabbath which looks forward to it!

Most other translations correctly render Hebrews 4:9 in the English. Even the margin of the King James version renders it: "There remaineth therefore a keeping of a Sabbath to the people of God." The Revised Standard Version has it: "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." The Jerusalem Bible: "There must still be, therefore, a place of rest reserved for God’s people, the seventh-day rest."

13. What further encouragement are Christians given about entering God’s eternal "rest"? Hebrews 4:10-11.Where may they go for the help—the faith--needed to obey God? Hebrews 4:14-16.

COMMENT: Notice how the Revised Standard Version renders Hebrews 4:10-11 : "For whoever enters God’s rest [the Kingdom of God] also ceased from his labors as God did from his [on the seventh day following the six working days of creation]. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience [as did ancient Israel]."

God’s seventh-day Sabbath is not to be treated lightly, for the Sabbath is both a memorial and a shadow. It is a memorial of Creation and a foreshadow of the coming eternal "rest" that Spirit-begotten Christians will enter when born into God’s eternal Family.

14. Did God command the entire nation of Israel to assemble ("convoke") on the Sabbath? Leviticus 23:3.What are New Testament Christians admonished regarding the assembling of themselves? Hebrews 10:25-26.

COMMENT: YOU may be interested to know that as early New Testament Christians assembled together on the Sabbath day, likewise God’s Church in this age assembles for worship services on God’s holy Sabbath. The Worldwide Church of God has congregations all over the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Europe and other parts of the world. Every Sabbath, God’s people meet to receive spiritual instruction and inspiration from the Word of God as expounded by the ministry of His Church (Ephesians 4:11-13).

(The Worldwide Church of God publishes an in-depth booklet on the subject of the Sabbath titled, Which Day Is the Christian Sabbath? Be sure to request it if you have not done so already.)