|
Robert
Franklin Correia
"A
world without a Sabbath would be like a man without a smile,
like a summer without flowers, and like a homestead without
a garden. It is the joyous day of the whole week."
Henry
Ward Beecher
Fourth
Edition
Collegiate
Press,
Arlington,
California
1943
Copyrighted,
1939, by R. F. Correia
Printed
in U.S.A.FOREWORD
Having read these pages of "The Bible Sabbath," I am happy
to write this foreword. The subject of the Sabbath is vital
to the Christian, for only he whose sins have been forgiven
through the grace of Jesus Christ, can enter into the "rest"
of God. "The wicked . . . cannot rest," declares the prophet
Isaiah, while Jesus cried with outstretched arms, "Come unto
Me, . . . and I will give you rest." This is the eternal purpose
of the gospel. And yet there are many who, loving the Lord,
ore confused on this great question.
I
feel Robert Correia has made a splendid contribution to this
great subject. The arguments he has presented from the Word
of God are clear and irrefutable, while the many quotations
from history reveal a deep research. My association with the
writer in the classroom has led me to appreciate his thorough
work while my personal esteem for him has urged me to a careful
examination of this presentation of the Sabbath question.
Now as it goes forth on its mission, I sincerely pray that
He whose mighty Word spake creation into existence will speak
again through the truth of the written Word of God and that
His Holy Spirit will banish the darkness of ignorance and
reveal His finished creation in the hearts of those who read.
R.
Allan Anderson
La
Sierra College
Introduction
"Come
now, and let us reason together." Isa. 1:18. In our investigation
of the true Bible Sabbath, our appeal is not made to great
logic, judicial powers, or profound discernment, but to reason.
In all sincerity this seems the best way, the Bible way, and
the only fair way of dealing with this important subject.
In the words of the Bible we repeat: "Let us REASON together."
Since
the Bible and the Bible only is the Christian's guide; since
"all Scripture . . . is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the
man of God may be perfect, THROUGHLY FURNISHED unto ALL good
works" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17); since God's holy Word is the Truth,
the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth (John 17:17); surely
it does reveal the Truth concerning the true Bible Sabbath.
Therefore we appeal to the Bible as the standard of our Inquiry.
The Holy Scriptures will be the rule of judgment, the court
of appeal in our Investigation of the true Bible Sabbath.
Thirty-five
Reasons
Why
I Keep The Bible Sabbath
I.
I keep the Bible Sabbath because God Himself kept the Bible
Sabbath.
God
made a sufficient proof of His regard for the true Sabbath
by resting the very first seventh day that ever came to this
earth:
Since:
God
rested on the seventh day. Gen. 2:2.
God
rested on the seventh day. Ex. 31:17.
God
rested the seventh day. Ex. 20:11.
God
did rest the seventh day. Heb. 4:4.
Whereas:
The
seventh day is the Sabbath. Ex. 20:10.
The
seventh day Is the Sabbath. Lev. 23:3.
The
seventh day is the Sabbath. Deut. 5:14.
The
seventh (day) is the Sabbath. Ex. 31:15.
The
seventh day, which is the Sabbath. Ex. 16:26.
Therefore:
It
Is as plain as day the Bible teaches that God himself kept
the seventh-day Sabbath.
My
first reason for keeping the Bible Sabbath is sufficient in
Itself to settle the whole question now and forevermore,--God
Himself kept the seventh-day Sabbath. That is conclusive evidence
to substantiate and vindicate my keeping, your keeping, or
any one else's keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath; for who
could be wrong or even be accused of doing wrong when he follows
the example of God Himself in keeping the very Sabbath day
which God kept.
2.
Because God instituted it at creation for man to keep.
"Thus
the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host
of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He
had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work
which He had made. 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. 2:1-3.
"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." Er, 20:11.
God
BLESSED the seventh day. Gen. 2:1-3.
The
Lord BLESSED the Sabbath day. Ex. 20:11.
God
SANCTIFIED the seventh day. Gen. 2:1.3.
The
Lord HALLOWED the Sabbath day. Ex. 20:11.
Please
notice that God BLESSED and SANCTIFIED the seventh-day Sabbath
at the end of creation. The blessing and sanctification show
it was instituted at that time for man to keep.
"God
BLESSED the seventh day." Gen. 2:1-3. God has said:
"I
change not" (Mal. 3:6), and in Him there "is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning." James 1:17. Consequently when
God blesses anything, the blessing cannot be "REVERSED" (Num.
23:20), because when God BLESSES anything, it "shall be BLESSED
FOREVER." 1 Chron. 17:27.
"God
SANCTIFIED the seventh day." Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-il.
According
to Webster's dictionary "sanctify" means "to set apart to
holy use." The Bible states: "God blessed the seventh day,
and sanctified it: BECAUSE that in it He HAD rested" (showing
the day had already past before He blessed and sanctified
it); therefore He blessed and sanctified the seventh days
then future, answering to the seventh day which had just past
on which He HAD rested.
The
above evidence clearly demonstrates the fact that God Himself
has attached the utmost importance to the seventh-day Sabbath
by His personal blessing and sanctification, thereby definitely
fixing the seventh day for all time as the only and true Sabbath.
God
is the giver of rest, for He says to all, "Come unto me and
I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28; Ex. 33:14. God knows which
is the right day on which to rest, and He has given man the
seventh-day Sabbath as a day of rest:
"The
seventh day thou shalt rest." Ex. 23:12.
"The
seventh day thou shalt rest." Ex. 34:21.
"The
seventh (day] is the Sabbath of rest." Ex. 31:15
"Th. seventh day is the Sabbath of rest." Lev. 23:3.
God
appointed the seventh day as a Sabbath to be the day of rest
from secular work because that in it He Himself had rested
from all His work. God's rest was not made necessary by fatigue
(Isa. 40:28), but He rested on that day as an example to all
men, thus making His rest on the seventh day a reason why
men should rest on the seventh day--that man should do as
God had done. Notice the following texts which prove that
God rested on the seventh day:
God
rested on the seventh day. Gen. 2:2.
God
rested on the seventh day. Ex. 31:17.
God
rested the seventh day. Ex. 20:11.
God
did rest the seventh day. Heb. 4:4.
No
wonder in the New Testament after the cross the followers
of Christ "RESTED the Sabbath day according to the commandment."
Luke 23:56. No wonder the book of Hebrews in the New Testament
positively states "There remaineth therefore a REST (keeping
of a Sabbath) to the people of God. Let us labour therefore
to enter into that REST, lest any man fall after the same
example of disobedience." Heb. 4:9, 11, margin.
So
we can see that the seventh-day Sabbath is not manmade but
God-made. It is not only the oldest institution but also the
first institution which God gave to man, it being older and
as significant as the marriage institution. Since the setting
apart of the seventh day as the Sabbath day was coincident
with the ORIGIN of man, the observance of that seventh day
as the Sabbath is to be coexistent and coextensive with the
DURATION of man.
3.
Because the Sabbath was made for man (mankind).
Jesus
said: "The Sabbath was made for MAN." Mark 2:27. Man in this
text means human being, mankind." (Cf. Webster) Matt. 4:4;
John 1:9.
The
Bible does NOT say: "The Sabbath was made for the JEWS,"
But
it does say: "The Sabbath was made for MAN." Mark 2.27.
It
also says: The woman was made for the MAN. 1 Car, 11:9.
How
could the Sabbath be made for the Jew only when it was instituted
at Creation (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11) 2,500 years before a
Jew existed? A Jew is "a descendant of Judah," according to
Young's Concordance.
Notice
the Sabbath commandment itself. "Remember the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy. . . the seventh day is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God [not Jew]; 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." Ex. 20:8-10. Please tell us to whom TRY STRANGER
refers if it does not refer to some one who is not a Jew.
God has taken the most scrupulous precautions against such
an idea by writing into the fourth commandment the term THY
STRANGER, who is not a Jew. Cf. Ex. 12:49; Num. 15:16, 29;
Isa. 56:6-8.
Those
who contend that the Sabbath was made ONLY for the Jew will,
by the force of their own consistency, have to admit the woman
was also made ONLY for the Jew and the Jew is the only man
who can have a wife, because the woman was made for the same
MAN for whom the Sabbath was made. The Sabbath was given about
the same time marriage was given, and it applies to all men
the same as marriage applies. So we can see plainly that the
Sabbath is no more exclusively for the Jew than is the marriage
institution. The Sabbath is not man-made but God-made, and
it was made for all men in all the world for all time.
'Twas
set apart before the fall,
'Twas
made for man, 'twas made for all."
R.
F. Cottrell.
4.
Because God commanded man to keep the Sabbath.
Notice
how many times the Bible repeats God's command for man to
keep the Sabbath:
"Remember
the Sabbath day, to KEEP It holy." Ex. 20:8.
"Verily
my Sabbaths ye shall KEEP." Ex. 31:13.
"Ye
shall KEEP my Sabbaths." Lev. 19:30.
"Ye
shall KEEP my Sabbaths." Lev. 26:2.
"KEEP
the Sabbath day." Deut. 5:12.
"KEEP
my Sabbaths." Lev. 19:3.
What
stronger language could be used? The Sabbath which most men
are forgetting, that very Sabbath, God says to "Remember."
God knew that man would forget His Sabbath. No wonder the
fourth commandment, which deals with the Sabbath, is the only
one of all God's holy Ten Commandments which begins with "REMEMBER."
"Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour,
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." Ex. 20:8-10.
5.
Because God commands man to keep not A day but
THE
SEVENTH DAY.
God
does not say in His commandment that man is to keep A seventh
day, or ANY seventh day, or YOUR seventh day. Nor did God
say to keep the day of Christ's birth, or the day of Christ's
death, or the day of Christ's resurrection. The ONLY weekly
day which God or the Bible definitely and distinctly COMMANDED
should be kept is "THE SEVENTH DAY [which] IS THE SABBATH
OF THE LORD THY GOD." Ex. 20:10. How grandly simple the Bible
makes this in the following texts:
THE
SEVENTH DAY God ended His work. Gen. 2:1-3.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God rested. Gen. 2:1-3.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God blessed. Gen. 2:1-3.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God sanctified. Gen. 2:1-3.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God had rested. Gen. 2:1-3.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God told us to remember. Ex.20:8.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God made the Sabbath day. Ex. 20:8.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God made holy. Ex. 20:8; Isa. 58:13.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God told us to refrain from work. Ex. 20:10.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God made HIS Sabbath. Ex. 20:10.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God rested. Ex.20:10.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God blessed. Ex. 20:11.
THE
SEVENTH DAY God hallowed. Ex. 20:11.
As
there is only one day of American Independence, only one right
day to celebrate the fourth of July, so THE SEVENTH DAY is
the ONLY RIGHT SABBATH DAY for man to keep. Therefore every
seventh day Sabbath should be underscored with red because
it is God's red-letter day of the week--"Day of all the week
the best!"
6.
Because the seventh-day Sabbath is the LORD'S DAY.
All
through the Bible we are repeatedly told that the Lord has
a definite and special day. The Lord's regard for the Lord's
day is stressed in terms of possession. For example, as I
would say of my hat: "Correia's hat, hat of Correia, or my
hat;" so the Lord shows His possession of His day by calling
it: "The Lord's day, day of the Lord, or my day." Notice the
following texts:
"The
Lord's day." Rev. 1:10.
"Lord
even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.
"Lord
also of the Sabbath." Mark 2.28; Luke 6:5.
"My
holy day." Isa. 58:13; Neh. 9:14; Ex. 31:15; Lev. 19:3, 30.
"The
seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord." Ex. 20:10.
"The
seventh day ... is the Sabbath of the Lord." Deut. 5:14, Lev.
23:3.
Who
can doubt the plain statement of the Holy Bible when it gives
all these Scriptural witnesses to testify that the seventh-day
Sabbath is the Lord's day?
7.
Because the Sabbath is the SIGN between God and His people
forever.
As
most articles have their particular brand or trade-mark to
establish their genuineness, as every policeman has a badge
to vindicate his authority, as every official has his seal
to ascertain his identification and power, so God has a visible
mark or sign between Him and His people that forever distinguishes
them. The Bible plainly states what this sign is:
"I
gave them my SABBATHS, to be a SIGN between Me and them."
Eze. 20:12.
"Hallow
my SABBATHS; and they shall be a SIGN between Me arid you."
Eze. 20:20,
"My
SABBATHS ye shall keep: for it is a SIGN between Me and you."
Ex. 31:13.
"It
is a SIGN between Me and the children of Israel FOREVER."
Ex. 31:17.
8.
Because the Sabbath is God's flag.
God
has a flag:
I
(God) will set up My ensign. Isa. 49:22, R.V.
A
flag is a sign:
"They
set up their ensigns for signs." Ps. 74:4.
God's
sign is His Sabbath:
"I
gave them My Sabbaths, to be a SIGN." Eze. 20:12, 20.
"It
[my Sabbath] is a SIGN." Ex. 31:13.
"It
[my Sabbath] is a SIGN . . . forever." Ex. 31:17.
Since
God has a flag Isa. 49:22, H. V.
And
a flag is a sign Ps. 74:4.
And
God's sign is His Sabbath Eze. 20:12, 20.
Therefore
God's FLAG IS HIS SABBATH Things equal to the same things
are equal to each other.
God
took of the fabric of time and made Himself an ensign for
eternity. He made a unit of time by the rolling of a globe,
and He called that unit day. He took a handful of days, seven,
and made them a week. And of that week He took the last day,
the seventh, and made it the Sabbath. That Sabbath is His
sign, His emblem, His FLAG.
A
flag is more than a mere piece of cloth. It is a special piece
of cloth consecrated to the definite purpose of signifying
all that a government is and has. So is the Sabbath. It is
more than merely a day. It is a special day. Like the cloth
in a flag it is a piece of time that has a special significance,
being consecrated by God Himself to represent the government
of God with all its power, purpose, and privilege. The Sabbath,
therefore, is as different from any other day as the flag
is different from any piece of cloth.
Since
the Sabbath is the flag of God's Kingdom and I am a subject
of God's Kingdom, I want to see the HOME FLAG flutter because
it speaks of the homeland. Just as Old Glory has gathered
people out of all nations to America and it is a sign of America,
so God's flag reminds us that we are strangers and pilgrims
in a foreign land (Heb. 11:13), that our home is far away
upon a golden strand.
The
Sabbath is God's flag all the way from Paradise Lost to Paradise
Regained and under it will finally rally the faithful who
will be gathered from earth's remotest bounds. Isa. 11:12.
Since
no flag could take the place of Old Glory to the true American;
so no other day could take the place of God's seventh-day
Sabbath to the true Christian. Any flag won't do; neither
will any day do. It is nothing short of high treason to disrespect
God's flag. Men have too long scuffed God's Old Glory under
their feet. It Is high time to rally round the flag of God
and let it wave as our standard forever. At any cost, we must
be as loyal to and true to God's flag as Barbara Frietchie
was to the Stars and Stripes when she stated:
"Shoot,
if you must, this old gray head But spare your country's flag,'
she said."
9.
Because God brought Israel out of Egypt in order to preserve
His Sabbath, a parallel to the final redemption of mankind.
When
Moses endeavored to persuade Israel in Egypt to keep the Sabbath,
Pharaoh made a law against it. Ex. 5:5-9.
Therefore
God took Israel out of Egypt to keep the Sabbath:
"Keep
the Sabbath day to sanctify It. . . the seventh day Is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in It thou shalt not do any work
. . . And REMEMBER that thou want a servant in the land of
EGYPT, and that the Lord thy God brought thee 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;
cf.Ps. 105:43-45.
We
have every assurance that the Sabbath will play a prominent
part in the final redemption of mankind in a manner that will
be similar to and parallel to the Exodus. Notice the unmistakable
evidence from the Bible.
"And
in THAT DAY there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand
for an ENSIGN (cf.No. 8] of the people; to It shall the Gentiles
seek: and His REST [cf. Ex. 16:23; Heb. 4:9 margin] shall
be glorious. And it shall come to pass In THAT DAY, that the
Lord shall set His hand again the SECOND TIME TO RECOVER THE
REMNANT OF HIS PEOPLE (first time at the Exodus, Deut. 5:12.15].
. .. And He shall set up an ENSIGN [cf. No. 8] for the nations,
and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together
the dispersed of Judith from the four corners of the earth."
Isa. 11:10-12.
10.
Because at least 15 days before Sinai God reproved His people
for not keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. Ex. 16:1; 19:1.
Since
so many falsely believe that the Sabbath command did not exist
before Sinai, this reason and proof is of profound significance
to the sincere seeker of Bible Truth. Notice the Bible evidence
which shows the Sabbath command existed before Sinai:
"How
long refuse ye to keep My COMMANDMENTS AND MY LAWS? for the
Lord hath given you the SABBATH." Ex. 16:28, 29; cf.verse
4.
'This
is that which the Lord bath said, Tomorrow Is THE REST OF
THE HOLY SABBATH." Ex. 16:23.
This
Scriptural evidence showing the Sabbath commandment was in
existence before Sinai Is highly creditable, open, aboveboard,
and explicit. Notice the following lessons God taught His
people there that day concerning the Sabbath:
1.
What day it is Ex. 16:26.
2.
What it is Ex. 16:23.
3.
How to prepare for It Ex. 16:23, 26.
4.
How it should be kept Ex. 16:30.
5.
With what It is associated Ex. 16:28.
6.
Who gave it to man Ex. 16:29.
11.
Because the TEN COMMANDMENT LAW which contains the Sabbath
commandment will stand FOREVER AND EVER.
"The
works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His COMMANDMENTS
are sure. They STAND FAST FOREVER AND EVER." Ps.
111:7, 8; cf.119: 152.
To
prove that "His commandments" in this quotation refer to the
Ten Commandment Law which contains the Sabbath, we call to
your attention the expression "works of His HANDS." The only
commandments which were the works of God's hands and in fact
the only thing that God ever wrote with His own hands according
to the Bible, are the TEN COMMANDMENTS. Notice the following
text: -
"He
commanded you to perform, even TEN COMMANDMENTS; and HE WROTE
THEM upon two tables of stone." Deut. 4:13; cf. Ex. 31:18;
34:1.
12.
Because God would NOT CHANGE HIS LAW and He forbade man to
change it.
God
would not change it:
"I
am the Lord, I change not." Mal. 3:6.
God
forbade man to change it:
"Ye
SHALL NOT ADD unto the word which I COMMANDED you, neither
shall ye DIMINISH ought from it, that ye may keep the COMMANDMENTS
of the Lord." Deut. 4:2; cf. 12:32.
Christ
taught that the Law remained unchanged:
"Do
not for a moment suppose that I have come to ANNUL THE LAW.
In
truth I tell you that until heaven and earth pans away, NOT
THE SMALLEST LETTER, not a PARTICLE shall pass away from the
Law until all has taken place." Matt. 5:17, 18, Weymouth.
Paul,
James, and John taught the Law remained unchanged:
"Do
we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea we
ESTABLISH THE LAW." "The DOERS OF THE LAW shall be justified."
Ram. 3:31; 2:13.
"If
ye fulfill the royal law ... YE DO WELL . . . For whosoever
shall keep the WHOLE LAW, and yet offend in ONE POINT, he
is guilty of all." James 2:8-12; cf.I John 2:4-6, 5:3.
13.
Because he that attempts to CHANGE GOD'S LAW which contains
the Sabbath commandment is AGAINST GOD.
For
any one to attempt to change God's Holy Law, it would seem
to the true Christian like the touch of a profane hand upon
the ark of God. Through all the history of the world God has
maintained the laissez faire theory in regard to His law--"Let
well enough alone." In spite of this, fools rush in where
angels fear to tread, and man has attempted to change God's
law; notice what the Bible states concerning this lese majeste
(high treason):
"And
he shall speak great words AGAINST THE MOST HIGH, and . .
think
to CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS." Dan. 7:25. "The earth also is defiled
under the Inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed
the LAWS, CHANGED the ordinance, BROKEN the everlasting [Ex.
31:16] covenant." Isa. 24:5; cf. Zeph. 3:1-4; Eze. 22:26.
14.
Because God is AGAINST those who are AGAINST His law which
contains the Sabbath commandment.
"Therefore
as the fire devoureth the stubble, . . . so their root shall
be as rottenness,. . . because they have CAST AWAY THE LAW
OF THE LORD." Isa. 5:24.
"Whosoever
therefore shall break ONE of these least commandments, and
shall teach men so, he shall be called LEAST in the Kingdom
of heaven." Matt. 5:19.
"He
that turneth away his ear from hearing the LAW, even his PRAYER
SHALL BE ABOMINATION." Prov. 28:9; cf.Hos. 4:6; Isa. 30:9;
Jer. 6:19.
15.
Because the law which contains the Sabbath contains the same
great eternal qualities of God Himself.
The
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP existing between God and His law is demonstrated
below to a mathematical nicety:
GOD
IS: HIS
LAW IS:
Righteous,
Ps. 145:17. Righteous,
Ps. 119:172.
Love,
I John 4:8, 16. Based
on love, Matt. 22:36-40.
Holy,
Lev. 11:44. Holy,
Ram. 7:1.2.
Spirit,
John 4:24. Spiritual,
Rom. 7:14.
Perfect,
Malt. 5:48. Perfect,
Ps. 19:7; James 1:25.
God
of truth, Ps. 31:5. Truth,
Mal. 2:6.
God
of peace, Ram. 16:20. Peace through, Ps.
119:165; Isa. 48:18.
Unchangeable,
Ps. 111:7, 8. Unchangeable, Ps. 89:34-37; Matt, 5:17-19.
God's
law manifests His qualities to such an extent that Ho Himself
identifies Himself with His law by calling it the ROYAL LAW.
James 2:8-12.
16.
Because the Law which contains the Sabbath IS THE STANDARD
by which TRUE AND FALSE religions are determined.
"TO
THE LAW and to the testimony: U they speak not according
to this word, it is because THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM." Isa
8:20,
17.
Because the law which contains the Sabbath will be THE STANDARD
by which God's final JUDGMENT will be made.
it
is a cold fact; nevertheless it is as true as the
needle is to the pole that God's law which contains His Sabbath
will be the standard of His judgment. Notice the following
Biblical evidence:
"JUDGED
BY THE LAW." Rom. 2:12.
"JUDGED
BY THE LAW." James 2:8-13; cf.Eccl. 12:12, 13.
18.
Because the LAW OF GOD in the Scriptures is very carefully
distinguished from the LAW OF MOSES, which expired at the
cross.
God
spoke the Ten Commandment Law with His OWN voice and wrote
it with His OWN finger upon tables of stone (Deut. 4:12, 13);
therefore there is no excuse for any one, be he priest, preacher,
or prelate, to be so misinformed as to say that Moses gave
and wrote the Ten Commandment Law.
The
LAW OF MOSES is as carefully separated from the LAW OF GOD
in the Holy Bible as the north pole is from the south pole.
I have taken the time to trace through the entire Bible from
beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation, and I have found
scores of passages that mention these two laws, but never
are they confused. On the contrary the Bible carefully, clearly,
and plainly distinguishes between the LAW OF GOD and the LAW
OF MOSES, showing they are two separate and distinct laws.
When the Bible separates these two laws, it is a good policy
for man to do the same.
What
the Constitution Is to the United States, so God's holy Ten
Commandment Law is to His government. America may make covenants,
codes, ordinances, and statutes, but never should she repeal
or change the Constitution which is her basic law. The Law
of Moses likewise contained codes, contracts, pledges, ordinances,
and rites which were given and taken away, but not God's holy
basic Ten Commandment Law. It never was, is, or will be changed
or repealed. How could God repeal such commandments as: "Thou
shalt not steal, murder, kill, etc?" Right in the very heart
of such basic commandments is found the seventh-day Sabbath
commandment. No wonder the Bible says:
"UNTIL
HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, NOT THE SMALLEST LETTER, NOR PARTICLE
SHALL PASS AWAY FROM THE LAW." Matt. 5:18, Weymouth.
That
the LAW OF GOD is carefully separated from the LAW OF MOSES
in the Scriptures will be demonstrated beyond all possibility
of successful contradiction in the following table:
LAW
OF GOD LAW
OF MOSES
Called
Royal Law. James 2:8. Called
Law contained in ordinances. Eph. 2:15
Spoken
by God. Deut. 4:12. Spoken
by Moses. Lev. 1:1-3.
Written
by God. Deut. 4:13. Handwriting
of ordinances. Col. 2:14.
Written
by God's finger. Ex. 31:18. Written
by Moses. 2 Chron. 35:12.
Written
on tables of stone. Ex. 24:12. Written
in a book. 2 Chron. 35:12.
Placed
In ark. Ex. 40:20.
Placed in side of ark. Deut. 31:24-26.
Is
Perfect. Ps. 19:7.
Made nothing perfect. Heb.
7:19.
Stands
fast forever and ever. Ps. 111:7, 8. Nailed
to cross. Col. 2:14.
Was
not destroyed by Christ. Matt. 5:17-19. Was abolished
by Christ. Eph. 2:15.
Magnified
by Christ. Isa. 42:21. Taken
out of way by Christ. Col. 2:14.
Gives
knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:20, 7:7. Instituted
in consequence of sin. Lev. 4-7.
19.
Because the Patriarchs kept the Ten Commandment Law which
contains the seventh-day Sabbath.
"Abraham
...KEPT MY LAWS .. . and COMMANDMENTS." Gen. 26:5: cf. 4:3
margin.
Some
seem to think the Ten Commandment Law or God's law was not
in existence before Sinai. The above text shows such an objection
is not an explanation but merely an excuse-- a self-evident
falsity. Such an opinion runs counter to facts. To those who
question the existence of the TEN COMMANDMENTS in the PATRIARCHAL
AGE we submit the following:
First
commandment: Gen. 31:30; Joshua 24:2.
Second
commandment: Gen 31:19; 35:4.
Third
commandment: 2 Peter 2:7, 8.
Fourth
commandment: Gen. 2:1-3; 4:3 margin.
Fifth
commandment: Gen. 9:20-25; 27:19, 24; 37:31-35.
Sixth
commandment: Gen. 4:8-13; 9:5, 6.
Seventh
commandment: Gen. 34:2; 38:l8; 35:22; 39:7-10.
Eighth
commandment: Gen. 30:33; 31:19; 44:8.
Ninth
commandment: Gen. 27:19, 24; 50:15-17; 20:2-12.
Tenth
commandment: Gen. 3:6; 37:11.
20.
Because the Bible writers themselves by precept and example
admonish the true Christian to KEEP THE LAW.
ABRAHAM:
"Kept My commandments." Gen. 26:5.
MOSES:
"Remember the SABBATH DAY to keep it holy."
Ex. 20:8.
NEHEMIAH:
"KEEP My commandments." Neh. 1:9; 9:13, 14.
JOB:
"Receive the law." Job 22:22.
DAVID:
"I shall keep Thy law." Ps. 119:34, 44, 55;
78:1.
SOLOMON:
"Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son." Prov.
28:7; 29:18.
ISAIAH:
"Blessed is the man.., that keepeth the Sabbath."
Isa. 56:2.
EZEKIEL.
"They shall keep My laws and .. . hallow
My Sabbaths." Eze. 44:24.
DANIEL:
'Keep His commandments." Dan. 9:4.
MATTHEW:
"Keep the commandments. Matt. 19:17.
JOHN:
"He that hath My commandments, and keepeth
them, he.. . loveth Me," John 14:21.
PAUL:
"Keeping of the commandments." 1 Car. 7:19;
Rom. 3:31; 7:6, 7.
JAMES:
"Keep the whole law." James 2:10.
CHRIST'S
CHURCH: "Keep the commandments." Rev. 12:17;
14:12.
PASSPORT
INTO HEAVEN: "Do His commandments." Rev.
22:14.
ANGELS:
"Angels. . . do His commandments." Ps. 103:20.
JESUS:
"I have kept my Father's commandments." John
15:10.
CHRIST
SAID: "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
John 14:15. "Keep the commandments." Matt.
19:17.
Please
notice the sum and substance of the whole matter as stated
by the Bible itself:
CONCLUSION:
"Let
us hear the CONCLUSION of the whole mutter: Fear God, and
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: for this is the WHOLE duty of man."
Eccl. 12:13.
21.
Because the TEN COMMANDMENT LAW or LAW OF
GOD,
which contains the seventh-day Sabbath is endorsed by the
New Testament.
Some
seem to think the New Testament does not endorse the Ten Commandments.
Upon what grounds are such decisions based? The facts bear
sufficient witness to prove beyond all reasonable doubt or
question that the New Testament, as shown below, not only
endorses the Ten Commandments, the fourth of which is the
seventh-day Sabbath, but repeats many of them verbatim.
THE
NEW TESTAMENT DECALOGUE
I
"Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."
Matt. 4:10; 22:37.
II
"Little
children, keep yourselves from idols." "Forasmuch then as
we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the
Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by
art and man's device." I John 5:21; Acts 17:29; John 4:24.
III
"That
the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed." I Tim.
6:1; Matt. 5:33-37; James 5:12.
IV
"Pray
ye that your flight be not in the winter, NEITHER ON THE SABBATH
DAY." "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:
Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath." "For
He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,
And God did rest the seventh day from all His works." "There
remaineth therefore a keeping of a Sabbath to the people of
God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased
from his own works, as God did from His." "For by Him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth."
Matt. 24:20; Mark 2:27, 28; Heb. 4:4,9(margin), 10; Col. 1:16,
17; Matt. 28:1; Luke 4:16; 23: 54, 56.
V
"Honor
thy father and thy mother." Matt. 19:19; Matt. 15:4-9; Eph.
6:1-3; Luke 18:20.
VI
"Thou
shalt not kill." Rom. 13:9; Matt. 5:21, 22; I John 3:15; James
2:10-12.
VII
"Thou
shalt not commit adultery." Matt. 19:18; Matt. 5:27, 28; Born.
13:9; Luke 18:20; James 2:10-12.
VIII
"Thou
shalt not steal." Rom. 13:9; Matt. 19:18; 15:19, Mark 10:19;
Luke l8:20.
IX
"Thou
shalt not bear false witness." Rom. 13:9; Matt. 19:18; Mark
10:19, Luke 18:20.
X
"Thou
shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7; Matt. 19:2 1, 22; Rom, 13:9.
22.
Because Jesus Christ identifies Himself in dose relationship
with the Ten Commandment Law which contains the Sabbath.
The
following evidence is not only richly suggestive but affords
striking testimony in favor of the seventh-day Sabbath law.
Christ
came not to destroy the law. Matt. 5:17.
Christ
testifies to the perpetuity of the law. Matt. 5:17-19.
Christ
came to "magnify the law, and make it honourable." Isa. 42:21.
Christ
kept His "Father's commandments." John 15:10.
Christ
Is our example. We are to keep what He kept. I Peter 2:21;
I John 2:6.
Christ
said: "If thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE [TEN] COMMANDMENTS."
Matt. 19:17-19.
Note:
I wish to stress the fact that by their association together
in the Bible, the New Testament as well as the Old Testament,
the words LAW and COMMANDMENT are interchangeable and have
the same meaning.
Cf.
Gen. 26:5; Ex. 16:28; 24:12; I Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 17:37, 2
Chron. 14:4; 19:10; 31:2l; Ezra 10:3; Neh. 9:13, 29, 34; Prov.
3:1; Matt. 19:17, 18; Luke 18:20; Horn. 13:8, 9; James 2:8-10.
23.
Because the NEW COMMANDMENT of Christ leads me to keep the
Sabbath.
The
New Commandment is worthy of attentive study and careful consideration.
Here is Christ's new commandment:
"That
ye love one another." John 13:34; 15:12; I John 3:23; 4:21.
Far be it from me to give any one the impression that I believe
the New Commandment does away with God's Ten Commandments,
because it does not, according to the Bible. Notice what the
New Commandment leads the true Christian to do:
"Not
as though I wrote a NEW COMMANDMENT unto thee, but that which
we had from the beginning, that WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER. And THIS
IS LOVE, that we walk AFIER HIS COMMANDMENTS." 2 John 5, 6.
"We
know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. For THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, that we
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS,: and HIS COMMANDMENTS are not grievous."
I John 5:2, 3.
Jesus
Himself did not teach the new commandment was the ONLY commandment
that man should keep. Christ said:
"If
ye love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." John 14:15.
Of
which commandments did Jesus speak?
"Which?
Jesus said,
THOU
SHALT DO NO MURDER,
THOU
SHALT NOT COMMiT ADULTERY,
THOU
SHALT NOT STEAL,
THOU
SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,
HONOUR
THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER: and
THOU
SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF."
Matt,
19:18, 19.
These
commandments are contained in the TEN COMMANDMENTS which also
contain the SABBATH. In this passage Jesus did not command
the keeping of any of the first four commandments. Is that
any reason for man to break them? Is that any reason for man
to worship idols, curse God or break God's Sabbath? "Is the
silence of God's New Testament servants in the valleys of
Judea more weighty than the thunderIngs of God himself on
Mt. Sinai?" The answer is no. These with the other four are
the commandments of which Jesus was speaking when He said:
"If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt.
19:17-19; cf. Ex. 20.
Since
God is love (I John 4:8) and the whole gospel is based on
love (I Cor. 13), since Jesus has said, "If ye love Me, keep
My commandments," we understand that love Is the basic factor
of Christianity and that Jesus, the founder of Christianity,
stresses love in His New Commandment. No wonder the New Cornznandment,
which is the real essence of the whole Ten Commandments, was
given. This agrees with the following text:
"Love
is the fulfilling (pleroma, Gr., fulness) of the law." Rom.
13:10.
LOVE
AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
"Love
to God will admit no other God.
Love
will not debase the object it adores.
Love
to God will never dishonor His name.
Love
to God will reverence His day.
Love
to parents will honor them.
Hate,
not love, is a murderer.
Lust,
not love, commits adultery.
Love
will give, but never steal.
Love
wifi not slander nor lie.
Love's
eye is not covetous."
D.
L. Moody.
Thus
it is as clear as day that love or Christ's New Commandment
does not do away with the Ten Commandments, but establishes
them because: "Love is the FULNESS OF THE LAW." Rom 13:10.
24.
Because Jesus Christ the Son of God KEPT THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH
all His life.
If
anybody would know which was the right Sabbath day to keep,
surely it would be Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and He kept
the seventh-day Sabbath all His life:
"AS
HIS CUSTOM WAS, He [Jesus] went into the synagogue [church]
on the SABBATH DAY, .. . and taught them on the SABBATH DAYS."
Luke 4:16, 31.
The
custom of the world is not the custom of Jesus. The custom
of the world causes men to keep any day, but the custom of
Jesus caused Him to keep THE Sabbath day--the very day that
His Father kept at creation. Gen. 2:1-3. If it was good enough
for Jesus, it is good enough for me. I am confident of one
thing and of this thing there can be no doubt or question:
It was the CUSTOM OF JESUS TO GO TO CHURCH ON THE SABBATH
DAY.
Churches
mentioned:
Capernaum
church. Mark 1:21.
Nazareth
church. Luke 4:16.
His
attendance: Matt. 12:9; Lake 13:10; 6:6; Mark 6:2.
Jesus
Christ the founder of Christianity is the great example of
every Christian. What He did they are supposed to do.
Notice
how plain the Bible makes this: "Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an EXAMPLE, that ye should FOLLOW HIS STEPS."
"He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to
walk, EVEN AS HE [CHRIST] WALKED." I Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6.
Since Christ is our example and He kept the seventh-day Sabbath,
who dare aspire to the "scorner's seat and hurl the cynic's
ban" and accuse any one who follows the example of God Himself
(Gen. 2:1-3) and the Son of God Himself (Luke 4:16) in keeping
the very Sabbath day which They kept?
25.
Because Jesus Christ the Son of God KEPT THE SABBATH AFTER
the cross.
It
is a matter of common knowledge that after the crucifixion,
Jesus RESTED in the grave. God RESTED on the seventh day at
creation, and Jesus, the Son of God, RESTED on the seventh
day at redemption. Both in life and death Jesus honored the
Sabbath.
He
lay there BEFORE THE SABBATH. Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:52-56.
He
remained there until AFTER THE SABBATH WAS PAST. Matt. 28:1;
Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1, 6.
Christ's
life climaxed in keeping the Sabbath. It was His custom to
keep it all His life and it was the last thing He did before
He arose from the grave and went to His Father. Since it was
the last thing that Christ did, if it is the last thing we
ever do, we should keep the Sabbath.
Christ,
while on earth, always kept the seventh-day Sabbath. It was
His custom to do so. His first sermon was on the Sabbath.
During His life's record we have no mention of any other day
but the seventh as the Sabbath.
It
seems very significant that Jesus, during three years instructing
His disciples, often discussing the Sabbath with them and
freeing it from its false burdens, making it a day of rest
rather than a day of arrest, never once alluded to any change
of the Sabbath to Sunday. Moreover there is not the slightest
intimation of any change during the forty days of His resurrection.
There is not a hint in the whole New Testament to even suggest
the sanctity of any day besides the seventh-day Sabbath. Where
the Bible is silent man ought to be silent.
It
is strange that some would endeavor to change the Sabbath
day after the death of Jesus, since the worst kind of fraud
and forgery is that which changes a man's will after He dies.
God
has given man a memorial of Christ's death and resurrection.
We should seek to commemorate the death and resurrection of
our Lord in the way of HIS OWN APPOINTING, namely, by means
of the Lord's supper and baptism. The Lord's supper was given
by Christ Himself to be a memorial of His death (1 Cor. 11:26);
and the sacred rite of baptism, to commemorate His resurrection.
Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-5. Baptism, then, and not Sunday or any
other day, is the Bible memorial of Christ's resurrection.
Since we are plainly told not to add or diminish from the
Word of God (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18), it seems
that all real Christians would want to honor Christ's resurrection
the way He wanted us to do so--not by a day but by an institution--the
ordinance of baptism.
26.
Because Jesus Christ the Son of God COMMANDED the keeping
of the Sabbath AFTER the cross.
Those
who have the erroneous notion that Sunday should be kept after
the cross may be sincere, but they are mistaken. While Jesus
left no command or example for the observance of Sunday, the
solid fact behind It all is He did leave a command and example
for the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. Here is the
Bible proof:
Christ's
Example:
"As
His CUSTOM WAS, He [Jesus] went into the synagogue [church]
on the Sabbath day." Luke 4:16.
Christ's
Command:
He
that said "GO YE" also said "PRAY YE." "Pray ye that your
flight be not in the winter, NEITHER ON THE SABBATH DAY."
Malt. 24:20.
Christ's
Command Obeyed:
"They
. . . rested the Sabbath day according to the COMMANDMENT."
Luke 23:56.
Why
did Jesus say "neither on the Sabbath day"? Because He recognized
and stressed the SANCTITY of the SABBATH with Its keeping
even at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, 70 A. D.,
almost forty years AFTER the CROSS. This clears the air of
any fog that might have settled over the minds of some who
question whether Christ commanded the keeping of the Sabbath
after the cross.
27.
Because Christ's followers kept the Sabbath AFTER the cross.
It
is highly significant that the Bible records the observance
of the Sabbath by the followers of Christ after the death
of Christ on the cross. If anybody ought to know about the
proper Sabbath, it should be those who were instructed by
Christ Himself. He kept it while He was with them and they
kept it when He left them:
"They
returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and RESTED the
Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:56.
As
much as they loved Jesus, they would not desecrate the Sabbath
even for Him. Cf. Luke 23:52-56; 24:1; Mark 15:42-47; 16:1.
Another notable feature about it all is that Christ was with
them for over a month after His resurrection and nowhere or
no place do we find any hint of His changing the Sabbath or
of His correction for their keeping of the Sabbath after He
died.
28.
Because PAUL, the greatest writer of the New Testament who
lived AFTER the cross, not only KEPT the Sabbath but PREACHED
on it.
The
fact is irrefutable that Paul's life-long manner or custom
was to keep the very seventh-day Sabbath that God kept at
creation and Jesus kept at redemption:
"And
Paul, as his MANNER WAS, went in unto them, arid three SABBATH
DAYS reasoned with them out of the Scriptures." Acts 17:2.
Another
very striking proof of Paul's observance of the Sabbath is
found in Acts 18:4 where it states:
"And
he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue [church] EVERY SABBATH."
The
Bible says Paul knew "the DOCTRINE OF THE LORD." (Acts 13:12),
and in the same chapter he PREACHED IT:
"Preached
to them the next SABBATH." Acts 13:42.
Other
verses showing Paul kept and preached on the Sabbath: Acts
13:44; 16:13; 13:14.
Those
who contend that nobody but Jews kept the Sabbath are parting
company with the facts given in the Bible. Notice the textual
evidence showing others besides Jews kept the Sabbath:
"And
when the JEWS were gone out of the synagogue, the GENTILES
besought that these words might be preached to them the next
SABBATH." "The GENTILES HEARD." Acts 13:42, 48. According
to the above scripture, the Gentiles asked Paul to meet with
them on SABBATH. No other day Is mentioned. Paul did not change
the appointment, because the next Sabbath "the Gentiles heard."
Sufficient evidence to prove that Paul preached to a non-Jewish
audience on a Sabbath by their own appointment.
"And
he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue EVERY SABBATH, and persuaded
the Jews and the GREEKS." Acts 18:4.
With
the above evidence at hand showing Gentiles and Greeks kept
the Sabbath, the theory that only Jews kept it has gone into
hopeless bankruptcy.
29.
Because the APOSTOLIC CHURCH kept the Sabbath AFTER the cross.
Any
one who thinks the Bible teaches that any other day besides
the seventh day was observed as the Sabbath after the cross
is asked to examine carefully the following texts:
Texts
Church
Date
Number
Acts
13:14, 42-44. Antioch 45
A.D. 2 meetings
Acts
16:12, 13. Philippi 53
A.D. 1 meeting
Acts
17:1, 2. Thessalonika
53 A.D. 3 meetings
Acts
18:1-4, 11. Corinth 54
A.D. 78 meetings
Here
is listed a total of eighty-four meetings on Sabbath. So we
can easily see that nothing is more certified than the fact
that the apostolic church kept the Sabbath after the cross.
30.
Because the Sabbath has been kept by God's faithful all through
the centuries from the time of the apostolic church to the
present time.
It
is a fact, obvious to any student of history, and the proofs
are plentiful to furnish substantial evidence, that there
have älwtiys been faithful seventh-day Sabbath keepers
from the time of Christ to the present age.
A.D.
75 FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS:
"For
there is not any city of the Greclans, nor any of the barbarians,
nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on
THE SEVENTH DAY hath not come." --Flavius Josephus Against
Apion from "The Works of Flavius Josephus," p. 925.
A.D.
250 ORIGEN, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA:
"Let
us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after Jewish manner.
But let every one of you KEEP THE SABBATH after spiritual
manner, rejoicing In meditation on the law." --Epistle to
the Magneslans, Chap. ix.
A.D.
350 ATHANASIUS:
"We
are assembled on the day of the SABBATH, not because we are
infected with Judaism,.. . but we approach the SABBATH to
adore Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath." --"The Signs of the
Times," Jan. 17, 1933, p. 13.
A.D.
400 AUGUSTINE:
"On
this day, which Is THE SABBATH, mostly those are accustomed
to meet who are desirous of the word of God." --"Augustine's
Sermon," 128, tom. 7, p. 629.
A.D.
450 SOCRATES:
"Almost
all of the churches throughout the world celebrate
the sacred mysteries on the SABBATH of every week." --"Socrates,"
Book v, chap. 22.
A.D.
590 POPE GREGORY I:
"It
has come to my ears that certain men of perverse spirit have
sown among you some things that are wrong and opposed to holy
faith, so as to forbid any work being done on the SABBATH
DAY."--"Nlcene and Post-Nicene Fathers," Vol. 13, bk. 13,
epist. I, p. 336.
A.D.
791 COUNCIL OF TRIAU: (In Italy)
"Further,
when speaking of that SABBATH which the Jews observe, that
last day of the week, and which also our peasants observe."--"l3th
Canon ci th Council of Triau."
11TH
CENTURY SCOTLAND:
"They
worked on Sunday, but kept SATURDAY in a Sabbatical manner."--"History
of Scotland," Andrew Lang, Vol. 1, p. 96.
14TH
CENTURY ABYSSINIA:
"It
is not, therefore, in imitation of the Jews, but In obedience
to Christ and
His
holy apostles, that we observe that day [Sabbath]." --Reason
for keeping Sabbath, given by Abyssinlan legate at the court
of Lisbon (1534) in "Church History of Ethiopia," by Michael
Geddes, pp. 87, 88.
A.D.
1576 WALDENSES:
"They
were called Inzabbati, not because they were circumcized,
but because they kept the SABBATH according to the Jewish
law." "They kept the Sabbath day." --"Deutsche Biographie,"
Art., "Goldast." (Godstus, historian.)
A.D.
1653 GOA, INDIA:
"They
keep Saturday holy, nor esteem the Saturday fast lawful, but
on Easter even. They have solemn service on Saturdays." --"History
of the Sabbath," J. N. Andrews, p. 569.
A.D.
1665 SIANFU, CHINA:
Stone
tablet unearthed dating before the eighth century: "On the
seventh day we offer sacrifice, after having purified our
hearts and received absolution for our sins." Id., p. 565.
A.D.
1738 COUNT NICOLAUS VON ZINZENDORF:
He
was the founder and first bishop of the Moravlan church. "The
days which we keep are Sunday as the Lord's resurrection day,
and the SABBATH or the REAL REST DAY OF OUR LORD." Id., 753.
A.D.
1844 MRS. E. G. WHITE:
"In
the autumn of 1846 we began to observe the BIBLE SABBATH,
and to teach and defend it." --"Testimonies," Vol. 1, p. 75.
31.
Because God's faithful church in these last days before He
comes will keep the commandments of God which contain the
Seventh-day Sabbath.
"And
the dragon [Satan, cf.Rev. 20:2] was wrath with the woman,
[God's church, cf. Jer. 6:2; 2 Car. 11:2] and went to make
war with the remnant [last or remaining part, cf.Ex. 26:12]
of her seed, which KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS [10 commandments,
cf. Matt. 19:17-19] of God." --Rev. 12:17; 14:12.
32.
Because the other churches say I'm right In keeping the seventh-day
Sabbath.
A
man may rub his eyes in amazement when he sees the following
quotations to support my 35 reasons. These have been selected
from the writings of reputable Sunday-keeping authors. While
I have the deepest veneration for their sincerity, yet I with
Job cannot help but say:
"Thine
own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips
testify against thee." Job 15:6.
LUTHERAN:
"The
observance of the Lord's day (Sunday) Is founded not on any
command of God, but on the authority of the church." --"Augsburg
Confession of Faith," as quoted in Cox's "Sabbath Manual,"
p. 287.
EPISCOPAL:
"We
have made the change from the seventh day to the Iirst day,
from Saturday to Sunday, on the authority of the one holy
catholic, apostolic church of Christ." --"Why We Keep Sunday,"
by Bishop Seymour.
METHODIST:
"It
is true there is no positive command for infant baptism Nor
Is there any for keeping holy the first day of the week."
--"Theological Compend," 1902, by Rev. Amos Binney, pp. 180,
181.
BAPTIST:
"There
was and is a commandment to 'keep holy the Sabbath day,' hut
that Sabbath day was not Sunday.. . . There Is no Scriptural
evidence of the change of the Sabbath institution from the
seventh to the first day of the week." --Edward T. Hiscox,
D. D., author of "The Baptist Church Manual."
PRESBYTERIAN:
"The
Christian Sabbath [Sunday] Is not in the Scripture, and was
not by the primitive church called the Sabbath." --"Dwight's
Theology," Vol. 4. p. 401.
CONGREGATIONAL:
"There
Is no command In the Bible requiring us to observe the first
day of the week as the Christian Sabbath."--"Mode and Subjects
of Baptism," by Fowler.
CHRISTIAN:
"The
first day of the week is commonly called the Sabbath. This
is a mistake. The Sabbath of the Bible was the day just preceding
the first day of the week. The first day of the week Is never
called the Sabbath anywhere in the entire Scriptures. It is
also an error to talk about the change of the Sabbath. There
never was any change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
There is not at any place in the Bible any intimation of such
a change." --"First-Day Observance," pp. 17, 19.
CATHOLIC:
Cardinal
Gibbons in the following statement hit the nail on the head.
In this statement he is splendidly right. "But you may read
the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find
a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The
Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a
day which we never sanctify." --"Faith of Our Fathers," pp.
111, 112.
"If
the Bible is the only guide for the Christian, then the Seventh-day
Adventist is RIGHT in observing the Saturday with the Jew."
--"The Question Box," Conway, p. 254.
33.
Because the change of the calendar has not altered or lost
the seventh-day Sabbath.
What
higher authority could we cite than the Royal Astronomer of
England and the Director of the U. S. Naval Observatory? Notice
what these authorities state concerning the change of the
calendar and the altering of the weekly cycle:
F.
W. Dyson, Astronomer Royal, Greenwich, London, in 1932 stated:
"As
far as I know, in the various changes of the Calendar there
has been no change in the seven day rota of the week . . .
."
James
Robertson, Director American Ephemeris, U. S. Naval Observatory:
"We
have had occasion to investigate the results of the works
of specialists in chronology and we have never found one of
them that has ever had the slightest doubt about the continuity
of the weekly cycle since long before the Christian era. .
. . There has been no change in our calendar in past centuries
that has affected in any way the cycle of the week."
SHOWING
THE CHANGE FROM THE IULIAN TO THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR
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