LORD’S DAY 38
Q. 103. What doth God require in the fourth commandment?
A. First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained;1 and that I, especially on the sabbath, that is, on the day of rest,2 diligently frequent the church of God,3 to hear His word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord,4 and contribute to the relief of the poor,5 as becomes a Christian. Secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by His Holy Spirit in me; and thus begin in this life the eternal sabbath.6 First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained;1 and that I, especially on the sabbath, that is, on the day of rest,2 diligently frequent the church of God,3 to hear His word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord,4 and contribute to the relief of the poor,5 as becomes a Christian. Secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by His Holy Spirit in me; and thus begin in this life the eternal sabbath.6
- Deut. 12:19. Tit. 1:5. 1 Tim. 3:14, 15. 1 Cor. 9:11. 2 Tim. 2:2. 1 Tim. 3:15.
- Lev. 23:3.
- Acts 2:42, 46. 1 Cor. 14:19, 29, 31. 1 Cor. 11:33.
- 1 Tim. 2:1.
- 1 Cor. 16:2.
- Isa. 66:23.
LORD’S DAY 38
Proper Sabbath Observance
1. What is the fourth commandment?
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15.
2. What is the first requirement of the fourth commandment?
That the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained. Deuteronomy 12:19.
3. What requirement is set forth in the term “Sabbath,” which means “rest”?
That I cease from my earthly labors and spend the Lord’s day in spiritual activities. Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:1-11.
4. What spiritual activity is required of you especially on the Sabbath?
That I diligently frequent the church of God. Psalm 122:1; Luke 4:16, 31; I Corinthians 11:18.
5. What spiritual activities belong to your worship in the house of God?
I am called to hear God’s Word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord, and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian.
6. Why do we observe the “day of rest” on the first day of the week rather than on the seventh?
Because Christ arose on the first day of the week, thus fulfilling the Old Testament Sabbath. Hebrews 4:1-11; John 20:19, 26; I Corinthians 16:1, 2.
7. What does this commandment require of you in all of life?
To begin in this life the eternal Sabbath. Isaiah 66:23.
8. How do we experience in this life the eternal Sabbath?
That all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by His Holy Spirit in me. Psalm 27:4.