Counsels on Christian Worldview
Counsel #1 — Instituted By God Himself!
Picture: Counsel #1 — Instituted By God Himself! CCW 78.1
God Himself instituted the 7th day Sabbath as a memorial of Creation. The concept of the Sabbath, described in Genesis 2:1-3, predates the formation of the Jewish people by roughly 2,300 years. This suggests the Sabbath was intended as a universal observance for all humanity, not solely for the Jews. The Bible reveals that God's final message to Planet Earth is a call to worship the Creator (see Revelation 14:6, 7). This emphasis on worship stems from the very act of creation itself. Jesus was the active Agent in creation (see Ephesians 3:9). Therefore, when Revelation calls for worshiping the Creator, it is ultimately a call to worship Jesus. In essence, recognizing God as our Creator is the foundation for worshipping Jesus, who brought all creation into being.[106] CCW 78.2
“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11 NKJV CCW 78.3
“In Eden, God set up the memorial of His work of creation, in placing His blessing upon the seventh day. The Sabbath was committed to Adam, the father and representative of the whole human family.” Ellen White in Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 48 CCW 78.4
Reflect: The passage states the Sabbath predates the Jewish people. How does this fact influence your understanding of the universality of the Sabbath? CCW 78.5