BLJ: We continue looking at the church, divorce and the Sabbath.
55. What are other institutions of Christianity?
The Christian Sabbath and Marriage are other institutions of Christianity.
56. What is the Sabbath?
The Sabbath is the seventh day, a sacred day of rest, following six days of secular employment. The Sabbath principle was revealed by God at the time of creation and is confirmed in the Ten Commandments. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made" (Gen. 2:3). "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" (Exod. 20:8-10).
57. What was the Jewish Sabbath?
The Jewish Sabbath was the sabbath principle adapted by God as a weekly memorial of God's perpetual covenant with Israel and of their deliverance from Egypt As such it was a shadow of things to come which Christ took out of the way in His death. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever" (Exod. 31:16,17). "Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee ... And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day" (Deut. 5:12, 15). "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Col. 2:1417).
58. What is the Christian Sabbath?
It is the sabbath principle adapted by the Christian Church to the first day of the week as a weekly memorial of the resurrection of our Lord and of the advent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week ... came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you ... After eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you" (John 20:19, 26). And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them" (Acts 20:7) "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (I Con 16:2)
59. How are we to keep the Sabbath day holy?
We keep the Sabbath day holy by devoting the day chiefly to the worship and service of God, and by refraining from all secular occupations and recreations, except works of mercy and necessity.
60. Is marriage a divine institution?
The institution of marriage was ordained of God in the time of man's innocency, and is, according to apostolic authority, "honorable in all"; it is the mutual union of one man and one woman for fellowship, helpfulness and the propagation of the race (Manual, page 44 [36, sec. 1]). "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh" (Matt. 19:4-6). "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled" (Heb. 13:4). Marriage is between one man and one woman. (BLJ)
61. Is the marriage covenant binding?
The marriage covenant is morally binding as long as both shall live, and, therefore, may not be dissolved at will (Manual, page 45 [36, sec. 1]). "What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" (Mark 10:9). "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband" (Rom. 7:2).
62. Is divorce and remarriage ever allowable?
There may exist such causes and conditions as justify divorce under civil law, yet only adultery will supply such ground as may justify the innocent party in remarrying. (Manual, page 45 [36, sec. 2]). "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:9).
63. What is. the church's teaching on divine healing?
We believe in the Bible doctrine of divine healing and urge our people to seek to offer the prayer of faith for the healing of the sick. Providential means and agencies when deemed necessary should not be refused (Manual, page 31 [15]). "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let him pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" (James 5:14, 15).
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