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Calvary Missionary Baptist Church |
The Christian Sabbath Lesson Text: Hebrews 4:1-11 "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall (they shall not*) enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 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. And in this place again, if they shall (they shall not*) enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus (or Joshua**) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." - Hebrews 4:1-11 *Quoted from Psalm 95:11 **Joshua and Jesus come from the same word. The OT was translated from Hebrew, and the NT was translated from Greek. I. The Three Basic Views of the Sabbath Sabbath - a ceasing of work; rest a. The Sabbath is still applicable today and we must observe it on Saturday b. The Sabbath has been moved to Sunday, but is still binding. c. The Sabbath is a type that is fulfilled by Christ. II. The Lord's (Resurrection) Day, The first day of the week "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. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." - Matthew 28:1-6 "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 "Then 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 "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 III. Getting Tripped Up Over a Day "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." - Mark 2:27-28 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." - Colossians 2:16-17 IV. The Importance of Rest and Reflection on God The Sabbath day was instituted before the law was given… "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 had rested from all his work which God created and made." - Genesis 2:1-3 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…" - Revelation 1:10-11(a) V. The Importance of Assembling the Church "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 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25 VI. Why do we choose Sunday to go to church, rest, and reflect upon the Lord? 1. Because the Apostles and early disciples did. 2. It serves as a great picture of the resurrection " Before the Law it was a memorial of the creation " During Moses' time it was a memorial of the parting of the Red Sea " To the Israelites who went into the promised land, it was a memorial of the Passover " For the Christian it is a memorial and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!\ |