The Sabbath: Institution and Purpose by Asa Smith

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Mar 20, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 12.

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The Sabbath: Institution and Purpose

By Asa Smith

THE SABBATH.—No. 1. Institution and Purpose.

1. When was the Sabbath instituted? “On the seventh day.” Gen. 2:2, 3.

2. For whom was it made? “The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27.

3. How should it be observed? “Keep it holy.” Ex. 20:8. “Honor Him, not doing thine own ways.” Isa. 58:13.

4. What important knowledge comes only thru keeping the Sabbath? “That ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” Ex. 31:13.

5. Who is “the Lord”? “The Creator.” Isa. 40:28; Ex. 20:10, 11.

6. How did He create the heavens and earth? “By the word.” Heb. 11:3; Ps. 33:6; John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2.

7. How are we sanctified? “Sanctify them thru Thy truth; Thy word is truth.” John 17:17.

8. How much power is in the word? “He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33:9.

9. What is Sabbath-keeping for? “That ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Eze. 20:20.

10. What is the character of God? “God is love.” 1 John 4:16. “Merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Ex. 34:6, 7.

True Sabbath-keeping turns our minds to our Creator who is so loving and merciful, and forgives our sins, who has such power that when He speaks the thing is done, and who sanctifies and keeps us by that same all-powerful word. Truly, then, can we “call the Sabbath a delight.” Isa. 58:13, 14. Reiswig, B. C. Asa Smith.