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1. IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS

a. What did Christ say of the moral law He wrote on two tables of stone? Exodus 24:12; Matthew 5:17–20; Luke 16:17.

b. How did the apostles confirm these Ten Commandments as binding in the New Testament era? Romans 3:20, 31; James 2:10–12.

c. When was the ceremonial law—including its Jewish yearly sabbaths—abolished? Galatians 3:1; 4:9, 10; Colossians 2:14, 16, 17.

“There are two distinct laws brought to view. One is the law of types and shadows, which reached to the time of Christ and ceased when type met antitype in His death. The other is the law of Jehovah and is as abiding and changeless as His eternal throne. After the crucifixion, it was a denial of Christ for the Jews to continue to offer the burnt offerings and sacrifices which were typical of His death. It was saying to the world that they looked for a Redeemer to come and had no faith in Him who had given His life for the sins of the world. Hence the ceremonial law ceased to be of force at the death of Christ.”—The Signs of the Times, July 29, 1886.

d. Instead of being part of the temporary “shadow of things to come” (Colossians 2:17) pointing to the future, to what does the seventh-day Sabbath of the moral law point? Exodus 20:11.

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2. CHRIST TAUGHT CORRECT SABBATHKEEPING

a. What is the evidence that Jesus taught true Sabbathkeeping? Luke 13:11–17.

“Christ would teach His disciples and His enemies that the service of God is first of all. The object of God’s work in this world is the redemption of man; therefore that which is necessary to be done on the Sabbath in the accomplishment of this work is in accord with the Sabbath law.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 285.

b. When Christ said. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work,” what did He mean? John 5:17. Where can the hand of God be seen working without interruption? Genesis 8:22; Matthew 5:45; 6:28–30. What should we learn from Christ’s instruction to the Pharisees? Luke 6:7–9.

“Should God forbid the sun to perform its office upon the Sabbath, cut off its genial rays from warming the earth and nourishing vegetation? Must the system of worlds stand still through that holy day? . . .

“God could not for a moment stay His hand, or man would faint and die. And man also has a work to perform on this day. The necessities of life must be attended to, the sick must be cared for, the wants of the needy must be supplied. He will not be held guiltless who neglects to relieve suffering on the Sabbath. God’s holy rest day was made for man, and acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent. God does not desire His creatures to suffer an hour’s pain that may be relieved upon the Sabbath or any other day.

“The demands upon God are even greater upon the Sabbath than upon other days. His people then leave their usual employment, and spend the time in meditation and worship. They ask more favors of Him on the Sabbath than upon other days. They demand His special attention. They crave His choicest blessings. God does not wait for the Sabbath to pass before He grants these requests. Heaven’s work never ceases, and men should never rest from doing good. The Sabbath is not intended to be a period of useless inactivity.”—Ibid., pp. 206, 207.

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3. CHRIST’S TEACHING CONFIRMED

a. How did Jesus confirm His teaching regarding the Sabbath when He warned His disciples living all over Judea? What were they to recall when they would have to flee? Matthew 24:20.

“[Matthew 24:20 quoted.] . . . He who made the Sabbath did not abolish it, nailing it to His cross. The Sabbath was not rendered null and void by His death. Forty years after His crucifixion it was still to be held sacred. For forty years the disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 630.

b. What can we learn from Christ’s exemplary Sabbathkeeping? Matthew 12:8–12. Name some practical illustrations. Isaiah 58:13, 14.

“The law forbids secular labor on the rest day of the Lord; the toil that gains a livelihood must cease; no labor for worldly pleasure or profit is lawful upon that day; but as God ceased His labor of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath and blessed it, so man is to leave the occupations of his daily life, and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest, to worship, and to holy deeds.”—Ibid., p. 207.

“In order to keep the Sabbath holy, it is not necessary that we enclose ourselves in walls, shut away from the beautiful scenes of nature and from the free, invigorating air of heaven. We should in no case allow burdens and business transactions to divert our minds upon the Sabbath of the Lord, which He has sanctified. We should not allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character. . . . 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. But these seasons, even upon the Sabbath, should not be made tedious by their length and lack of interest.

“During a portion of the day, all should have an opportunity to be out of doors. How can children receive a more correct knowledge of God, and their minds be better impressed, than in spending a portion of their time out of doors, not in play, but in company with their parents?”—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 583.

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4. CHRIST’S TEACHING AND THE EARLY CHRISTIANS

a. Give one evidence that the Jews were unable to prove their false accusation that Jesus was a Sabbathbreaker. Matthew 26:59–65.

b. After the new covenant was sealed with Christ’s own blood (Hebrews 9:16, 17), the disciples continued keeping the Sabbath lawfully. Luke 23:56. Is there any proof that, after His resurrection, He changed His previous teaching concerning lawful Sabbathkeeping? Matthew 28:20; Galatians 3:15.

c. What does Christ want to offer us through the Sabbath? John 14:27.

“To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 289.

“Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ's power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God.”—Ibid., p. 288.

d. What is said of Ananias, a church leader? Acts 22:12. If Paul were not a lawful Sabbathkeeper (Acts 16:13; 25:8), what he would not be permitted to do in a Jewish synagogue? Acts 18:4, 11.

e. What did the Jewish Christians, especially the converted Pharisees, teach the Gentile Christians? Acts 15:1–5. After the leading apostles assembled in Jerusalem had considered the matter, what did they write to the Gentile converts? Acts 15:20, 23–29.

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5. THE ONLY LORD’S DAY

a. Where did the early believers receive additional instruction related to their salvation? Acts 15:21; 22:19; Matthew 23:1–3.

b. Can you think of another reason why Christ instructed His followers to continue attending services in the synagogues? Luke 24:49; John 16:1–3.

c. On what day did both the apostles and early non-Jew Christians worship? Acts 13:42–44; 14:1; 16:13; Revelation 1:10.

“The Lord’s day mentioned by John was the Sabbath, the day on which Jehovah rested after the great work of creation, and which He blessed and sanctified because He had rested upon it.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 95.

“How can we account for the observance of the first day of the week by the majority of professed Christians, when the Bible presents no authority for this change either in the precepts or in the example of Christ or His followers? We can account for it in the fact that the world has followed the traditions of human beings instead of a ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ This has been the work that Satan has always sought to accomplish—lead people away from the commandments of God to the veneration and obedience of the traditions of the world.”—To Be Like Jesus, p. 161.

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PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Explain the distinction between the Sabbaths Christ called “My Sabbaths” and the Jewish annual sabbaths designated “your sabbaths.”

2. How did Christ teach lawful Sabbathkeeping? Give examples.

3. How did Christ restore correct Sabbathkeeping?

4. What evidence shows that the early disciples, the apostles, the converted Pharisees, and the Christian leaders were Sabbathkeepers?

5. What does a careful comparison among Matthew 23:1–3; Acts 15:21; 18:4, 11; 22:12, 19 reveal?