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THE WAY OF CHRISTIANS AND CONCERNING THE SABBATH. (1). Those observing the Sabbath day but disregarding the reasons why the Sabbath was instituted by Jehovah God for mankind, merely confirm their disobedience. The fulfilment of one's spiritual obligations to God is not just for the Sabbath, but is for every day of the week. (Heb 3:12,13). To observe the Sabbath day merely as a pretext for continuance in Godless disobedience on the remaining six days of the week is to offend Almighty God and risk forfeiting one's immortal heavenly destiny to enter into His rest. (Heb 4:11). Observing the God-given requirements of the principle of the Sabbath obliges us to abide by the Law of the Spirit of God by His Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath. (Matt 12:8). While putting aside one's own affairs and devoting one day each week to observe a Sabbath and partake of holy things does allow one to meditate solely on the spiritual requirements of our Creator on that day, "the objective of this mandate is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy" practiced every day. (1 Tim 1:5). To inherit everlasting life in the spirit realm of God, our goal must be to acquire the rule of conduct and spirit fruitage of a "new creation". (Gal 6:16 & 5:22,23). In this way we may reflect the glory of our Creator and His Son The Christ Michael. (2 Cor 3:18. Gen 1:26). Whichever day of the week a person may designate for the observance of a Sabbath, it would not be in their best interests if they were to witness a true Christian attending to their own affairs on the 'day of conscience' of that one. Just as it is written: "Keep from becoming causes for stumbling to Jews as well as Greeks, and to the congregation of God". (1 Cor 10:32). For the principle, please read 1 Corinthians 10:23 to 11:1. For a Christian to be seen by people of the nations actively engaged in work activities on a day when those with weaker consciences are observing their Sabbath, would be damaging to all. "Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person." (1 Cor 10:24). Better to preserve the weaker conscience of such ones, than to offend them. For it may be the time and place when the Holy Spirit of God becomes active in them toward their sanctification. While bearing these things in mind, those observing a weekly Sabbath are to be corrected. The Sabbath arrangement was a provision of Almighty God given only to the Jews. Our Lord Jesus Christ made the Law of commandments consisting in decrees with its system of Sabbaths under the "old covenant" obsolete, just as it is written: "By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees" and "blotted out the handwritten document against us, which consisted of decrees and which was in opposition to us; and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake." Consequently, such obligations under Mosaic Law have been blotted out, taken out of the way, and abolished. (Eph 2:11-15) (Col 2:13,14). Christians may observe a particular day of the week for the study of the Word of God; indeed such a day of rest should be encouraged for all people of God: "Therefore, a sabbath rest still awaits the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest, rests from his own work as God did from His. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following this evil example of unbelief." (Heb 4:9-11 NEB). (Cont. on Page 23/10/91).
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