The Sabbath and Creation 

Memory Verse: "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" (Genesis 2:2).

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Introduction: For nearly two thousand years, Satan has worked at a scheme carefully calculated to divert men's attention from the fact of "creation" and the act of the Creator. It was not merely coincidental that when Christ and the plan of salvation were revealed, that Satan began a campaign to cause man not to avail himself of salvation; and to cause him not to believe the story of Creation, the garden of Eden, and Fall of Man.
  One of the most regular reminders man has ever had, calling his attention to his own origin and the origin of all things, has been the institution and observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. As a day set aside for communion with God and with the people of God, it has served as a constant reminder of our origin and the origin of all things. This runs directly counter to the theory of evolution. Discounting the fact of creation has resulted in the dulling of the logic and sense for observing the Sabbath. If there is no Sabbath to observe, then the command to meet and commune on this day does not exist. It is upon the basis of such meetings and study of God's Word, that understanding and harmony among the people of God are established.
  To forget the reason for keeping the Sabbath (which reason is that God observed it, commanded it, and sanctified it), is to make a reminder of that fact less frequent and less forceful. Although God specifies the reason for keeping the Sabbath in the commandment itself, the followers of "Satan's substitute" state that keeping the Sabbath was to distinguish Israelites from non-Israelites, and that since the distinction between Israel and the rest of mankind has been removed, therefore the Sabbath no longer serves a useful purpose; therefore, the Sabbath has been discarded.
  That the Sabbath might be used as a distinction between God and His people and Satan and his followers, does not in any wise dim the truth of the real purpose of the Sabbath.

Lesson Questions:

1. When did the Sabbath originate? Genesis 2:1-3.

2. What does the Bible record that God did to establish the Sabbath? Genesis 2:2,3. Name and discuss four specific statements found in this text.

3. Read John 1:1-3,10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:14-18; Hebrews 1:2, then discuss the implications of Who it was that rested at the end of creation week.

4. In view of the Scriptures considered in question three, what special significance may be attached to Mark 2:28?

5. Determine the difference between "blessing" and "sanctifying" the Sabbath. (A bible dictionary would be helpful.)

6. In view of the purpose of the Sabbath, as Jesus taught (Mark 2:27), is it likely that this blessing was withheld? How else could the Sabbath be "sanctified," either in the sense of being holy or set apart from others of its kind, than in the middle of men?

7. When was the Sabbath commandment given to Israel? Was it given as a "new creation," or as an institution reminiscent of some prior event? Exodus 20:11.

8. Was the Sabbath made for only the Jew? Mark 2:27.

9. After what great event did God call Abram, who would be the father of the nation of Israel? Genesis 11:6-9; 12:1-3.