Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Mark 16: 1-2
16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
16:2 And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
Resurrection Did Not Consecrate First Day-
Christ rested in the tomb on the Sabbath day, and when holy beings of both Heaven and earth were astir on the morning of the first day of the week, he rose from the grave to renew his work of teaching his disciples. But this fact does not consecrate the first day of the week, and make it a Sabbath. Jesus, prior to his death, established a memorial of the breaking of his body and the spilling of his blood for the sins of the world, in the ordinance of the Lord’s supper, saying “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” And the repentant believer, who takes the steps required in conversion, commemorates in his baptism the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He goes down into the water in the likeness of Christ’s death and burial, and he is raised out of the water in the likeness of his resurrection—not to take up the old life of sin, but to live a new life in Christ Jesus. {3SP 204.2}
The Fourth commandment says to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Of all the Ten Commandments, only the fourth begins with the word remember, as it is the commandment God knew man would choose to forget. (Man also changed the Ten Commandments). To worship on the first day, Sunday, is a man-made tradition, which began in AD 321, instituted by Emperor Constantine. When man changes times and laws, it does not change the Holy Scriptures. The Bible warns us of this as well. Christ Jesus honored the Sabbath Day, Saturday, rested in the tomb on the seventh day, and did not rise until the first day, Sunday. Christ Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Amen.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We come into Your presence in thanksgiving and prayer. We are so thankful for instituting Your Seventh Day Sabbath at the beginning of creation. After completing Your, You rested on the Seventh Day and told us to do likewise. You looked back on Your creation and said it was all good. We thank You for giving us our work to do while here on earth and giving us a day when we can worship You in Spirit and in Truth. For setting this day aside for a Holy Purpose for the benefit of all humanity. We thank You for the warning that man would think to change Your times and laws, and for us not to follow the doctrines of man. We thank You for being our Almighty God, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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