IMPORTANCE OF SABBATH

REASON 1 TO GLORIFY GOD

REASON 1 TO GLORIFY GOD


Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.


Dan 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.



REASON 2 DISCIPLINE FOR KNOWN SIN

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Jam 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



REASON 3 TO PREVENT FROM FALLING INTO SIN

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.


REASON 4 TO KEEP US FROM PRIDE

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.


REASON 5 TO BUILD FAITH

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


REASON 6 TO CAUSE GROWTH

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.


REASON 7 TO TEACH OBEDIENCE AND DISCIPLINE

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.


Phi 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Phi 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.


REASON 8 TO EQUIP US TO COMFORT OTHERS

2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.


REASON 9 TO PROVE THE REALITY OF CHRIST IN US

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.


REASON 10 FOR TESTIMONY TO THE ANGELS

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?


Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,


1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.


CONCLUSION

Jam 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jam 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jam 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

CHRIST IN VEDAS

All have sinned disobeying the law of God. So they try to find different ways in order to escape from the wrath of God. In our country (India) some make offerings to Brahmins, and others sacrifice animals.

Vedas declare sacrifice as the only way for salvation. "Dharmani prathamani" it means that sacrifice is most important of all our duties.

"Yagyo vay bhuvanasya nabhih" - Sacrifice is the base of the world.
"Yagye sarvam pratishtitham" - Through sacrifice all things can be obtained.
"Yagyo vay sutram nouh" - Sacrifice is a boat by which life can be driven smoothly.
"Yagyem va deva divangatah" - gods got to heaven only through sacrifice.
"Ritasya nah pathinay ati vishvani durita" - get saved through sacrifice.

"These theories which are declared in Vedas show that sacrifice should get the highest place in all the penance and it should be done for the remission of sins.

"Sah-yagyah prajah srushtva purovach prajapathih Annen pravishyadhvamesh vo s sitvasht kamdhuk"
It means:

When God made man in the beginning, He did sacrifice and He said, "by this your heart's desire may be full."
"Yagya shapith kalmashah" - Those whose sins are washed by sacrifice.
"Nayam loko-sthya yagyasyakutho-nyah kurusatham" - O, holy guru when those who did not sacrifice a single time has no place in this world, then how can he get to heaven?

The importance of sacrifice has been shown in this way. We see in Madakopnishad, "Plava hyeth adhrada yagya rupah" - The timber of sacrifice-boat would be silent.

In the 7th chapter of yagya vaibhav khand in Skandha Puran we can read like this:-
"Plava hyete sura yagya adrudashch na shamsayah" -O gods, The timber of sacrifice - boat is undoubtedly silent.

Tandya mahabrahmin says, "Yagyo va avati tasya chaya criyate"- Only sacrifice can give deliverance, whatever is done is only a shadow of sacrifice.

In Rig -Veda we read, "Atmada balda yasyachaya-mrutam... yasya mrityuh" - whose shadow and death became life (Amrit - or immortality), by his shadow and death He will give soul and strength.

All these above writings clearly states that sacrifice itself never brings deliverance but they are only the shadow of sacrifice which brings great deliverance. Ethray brahmin says, "Yagyamanah pashu yagyamanmev swarga lokam gaymati" - "He Who donates animal for sacrifice, does the sacrifice and goes to heaven."

Shathpath brahmin says, "Prajapathi yagyah" - God Himself is sacrifice.

In tandya mahabrahmin of Sam-Veda, it says, "Prajapathi devemya atmanam yagyam drutva praikshat" - God will offer give Himself as sacrifice and receive the repentance of sins.

Shathpath brahmin says, "Tasya prajapathirdharmev martyamasidharth marutham" -God became half mortal and half immortal. It means He became man and heavenly the mixture of both.

Purushsukta says, "sacrifice of Brahmadev is done.

All these teachings clearly indicates that the master of this creation himself will perform a true and great saving sacrifice. He would become both mortal and immortal and anointed God - man and by becoming the sacrificial animal, He would give Himself for the deliverance of the sins of mankind.

Rig-Veda gives the following facts regarding the sacrificial animal:

1. It should be a lamb without blemish.
2. Around his head 'Bulusu' bush should be placed.
3. It should be on the altar of sacrifice.
4. Its four legs should be nailed in such a way that until they bleed.
5. The cloth which covers the lamb should be distributed in four parts.
6. No bones should be broken
7. Gal should be given for the drink of the lamb.
8. After it is sacrificed, it should come back to life again.
9. Its flesh should be eaten.

From this we can come to the conclusion that the anointed Lamb of God who gave Himself for sacrifice and died for us, complied with all these descriptions.

It can be said that God took the form of a man first and then to save the sinners He gave Himself to be sacrificed. In our country we never read about this type of anointed one in our scriptures. No one who is God's anointed ever had this type of sacrificial death for the redemption of sinners. But in the meditarian seashore of western Asia there is a country called Palestine that is situated in the midst of dense population of the world. In this country an anointed son was born to a holy virgin in whom all these above written qualities were complete. He was completely innocent and blameless. He lived a holy and pure life. He was both mortal and immortal means both man and God. From the beginning itself He prophesied about His sacrificial death for the deliverance of mankind and victorious resurrection from the death. He delivered Himself to those evil people who not only loved sin and sinful ways of this world but also wanted to kill Him.

f we see about His death, we can see that as the Rig-Veda describes the qualities of the sacrificial lamb they are exactly fulfilled in this anointed person as explained below:

1. It should be a blameless lamb - He was a blameless (or without sin) God - man.
2. Around his head 'Bulusu' bush should be placed - A crown of thorn was put on His head.
3. It should be on the altar of sacrifice - He was laid on the Cross.
4. Its four legs should be nailed in such a way that until they bleed - His hands and legs were nailed.
5. The cloth which covers the lamb should be distributed in four parts - Those who crucified Him distributed His cloths by themselves.
6. No bones should be broken - None of His bones were broken.
7. Gal-juice should be given for the drink of the lamb - He was given vinegar for drink.
8. After it is sacrificed, it should come back to life again- He rose up from the dead on the third day.
9. flesh of it must be eaten- Before His death, He said to his disciples that they should eat His flesh and drink His blood, which was sacrificed for the salvation of the world; and for the remembrance of His death take bread and grape juice and for this He started a holy ritual which is still being performed.

n this anointed person, the sacrifice of repentance which can save sinners, is completed. All these things clearly states that this is the anointed one of God through whom sinners can get salvation of their souls. This anointed one is none other than JESUS.

Purushsukt says, "Nanya panthah vidhyatey nyayah" - Even by the thousands of good works you can not get to heaven, except through Brahmdev who gave Himself as sacrifice,."

So there is none other than "JESUS" who can save you from your sins.

Atharnava Veda 13-3-4
Koumaro loko ajanishta' putrah nwarvhethan wai uttaravoth

[Translation: A son will be born to a virgin in this world, take ye hold that (son) is what is superior (than everyone).]

Rig Veda 355-1
[no transcription given] . . . ' born in a cattle shed'

Mahapurana Book 3. Chapter in 34 verses [?]
Ko bhavaanithi tham praaha Sobhovaachamudaanwitha:
Eshaputhram cha maam idhi Kumaareegarbha samahavam Aham easa Maseeha nama Bhavishya

[Translation: (King Saka asked ) " May I know who you are ?" That man replied happily "I am the son of God born to a virgin. My name is Easa maseeha"]

Luke 2:11-12
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Isaiah 17:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you [plural] a sign: The virgin [*] will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

Bhagavat Gita 1:7
Asmaakam thu visishtaye Thaanni bodha dwijothama

[Translation: A perfect Brahmin is twice born. nobody can become a brahmin without being born a second time.

Note: The meaning of the word Brahmin is ' brahma jnaanethi brahmana'- One who has attained the wisdom about God, who has found God. Hence nobody can find God unless he is born again a second time.]

The coresponding Bible verses are as follows:

John 3:1-8
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

1. The sacrificial victim is to be crowned with a crown made of thorny vines (Rig Veda X:90:15, and Bruhadaranyakopanishad III:9:28)
2. His hands and legs are to be bound to a yoopa causing bloodshed (Ithareya Brahmanam 2 : 6)
3. None of His bones must be broken (Yajurveda XXXI)
4. Before death he should be given a drink of somarasa (Ithareya Brahmanam)