Negative sermons are sometimes necessary. It is the duty of gospel preachers not only to proclaim the truth but also to condemn error and convict the gainsayers (Titus 1:9). Wherever false teaching raises its ugly head, we must strike it down with the sword of the Spirit. Wherever it lurks in secret hiding places to destroy unwary souls, we must search for it and expose it with the light of truth. We must warn people against it.
Much money and effort are spent to protect people from contagious diseases. In a public building of downtown Nashville yesterday I saw above a water fountain a sign which said, “Do not put your mouth on the faucet unless you wish to catch or spread disease.” Certainly we should labor diligently to prevent the spreading ofreligiouserror. I wish I were able to place a skull and cross bones sign across every false doctrine.
It is my purpose this morning to label and expose the false doctrine of the Seventh Day Adventists with respect to the sabbath. In view of the current meeting at the War Memorial Auditorium, this lesson iscertainly timely. I’m taking no advantage of those whose teaching I examine, for my purpose has been duly advertised in the daily press, and they are invited to be here. The overflow crowd present this morning indicates a lively interest in this topic. I wish I had the opportunity to speak to all of those who have been listening to error in reference to the sabbath. I proceed with malice in my heart toward none.
The zeal and liberality of the Seventh Day Adventists are admirable. They are spending a lot of money to teach what they evidently believe to be the truth. The advertising for their current meeting is costing thousands of dollars. Their winning several converts to a doctrine that is not only false but also unpopular and inconvenient is evidence that advertising is effective. But their zeal is without knowledge and their converts have accepted error. The work they are doing at present constitutes a public challenge to all preachers of the gospel. That challenge shall not go unanswered. I make no personal criticism of their speaker but I condemn his teaching because it is false.
The Bible reveals unto us three distinct dispensations or periods of time. On the board I have a little diagram to represent those three dispensations. (Seep. 144.) The first lasted from Adam to Moses; the second continued from Moses until the death ofChrist on the cross; the third began at the cross and will continue until our Lord comes again.
During the first period, the family was the unit of worship. In divers manners and various portions God communicated with the heads of the families, such as Adam, Noah, Abram,et al. These men were known as patriarchs (Heb. 7:4; Acts 2:29; 7:8, 9) and accordingly this period is known as the patriarchal dispensation. At Mt. Sinai God gave another law to the Jewish nation which continued in force until Christ died on the cross. This law was given through Moses and applied to the Jews only. Hence the second period is known as the Mosaic dispensation. Throughout this period the patriarchal regulations continued to apply to the Gentile families and nations but the Jews were governed by the law given at Sinai. There were two laws in force simultaneously but applying to different peoples. God never had two different laws applying to the same people at the same time.
During the third period, or Christian dispensation, we have, of course, the will or the law of Christ. In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these days spoken unto us by his son.” That makes a distinct break at the cross. Before Christ came God spoke unto our fathers by the prophets in dreams, visions, etc., but unto us he hath spoken through his Son, Jesus Christ. In the New Testament we have the will of Christwhich went into effect when he died on the cross (Heb. 9:15-17).
The advocates of the seventh day sabbath make a very broad claim. They claim that the command to remember the sabbath day and keep it holy (the fourth commandment of the Decalogue given at Sinai) has been binding on all people throughout all ages and will continue to be in force as long as time shall last. In other words, they claim that it has been binding throughout each of the dispensations already mentioned. With the diagram (p. 144) to keep these three periods before our minds, let us examine the claim in the light of the Bible.
First of all, I emphatically deny that God commanded anyone to keep the sabbath before the children of Israel were led out of Egypt. According to the Seventh Day Adventists, the “fourth commandment” was in force at least 2,500 years before it was made known. This could not be. Moses wrote the book of Genesis. He probably wrote it after the law was given at Sinai. It covers almost the entire patriarchal period.In this book the word “sabbath” is not found at all!Genesis 2:2 says that God rested on the seventh day, but it does not say that he told Adam and Eve to rest; neither does it call the seventh day the sabbath. “And on the seventh day God endedhis 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.” Please note that that isnot a commandment; it is a statement of facts. It is a statement of the fact thatGodrested on the seventh day and a statement of the further fact that (at some later date) he sanctified and blessed the seventh day. There is no commandment in that Scripture.
Furthermore, the very tense of the verb used in verse 3 shows that he did not sanctify the day at the time he rested. Note this tense: “because in it hehad rested.” It does not say “because he was resting” but “because hehad rested” on that day. The very tense of the verb shows that after God himself had rested on the seventh day,at some later time, when he could refer to the fact that he had rested in the past tense, he sanctified that day. Genesis does not saywhenhe sanctified it. Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 reveal that he sanctified it as a day of rest for the Jews in the wilderness when he gave the law at Mt. Sinai, after he had led them out of Egypt. The seventh day was sanctified at the close of the patriarchal dispensation,at least 2,500 years after the world began.
The mentioning of the sanctification in Genesis 2:3 has been called a case of prolepsis, or joining together in statement two events that were separated in time. Other examples of prolepsis may be found in Genesis 3:20, 4:20, and Matthew 10:4. No one can show where God sanctified the seventh day, much lesswhere he commanded anyone to keep it, until after the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt.
The seventh day of the week is first called the sabbath in Exodus 16, in connection with the giving of the manna to the Jews in the wilderness. In anticipation of the law soon to be given at Sinai, God instructed the people to gather two days’ supply on the sixth day and warned them not to expect any on the seventh day. The manner in which the sabbath is thus introduced shows that they were not accustomed to keeping it. In spite of these special instructions, some went out to gather manna on the seventh day and found none. This shows their lack of familiarity with the seventh day sabbath. The sabbath was a new institution soon to be established. Here it was first introduced. At Mt. Sinai a few days later it was made known. “Thou camest down also upon Mt. Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments; and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant ...” (Neh. 9:13, 14; see also Ex. 20:8-11, and Deut. 5:12-15). If they were already familiar with the sabbath, how could God havemade it knownto them at Mt. Sinai?
Soon after the sabbath command was given at Sinai, a Jew went out and picked up sticks on the sabbath day (Num. 15:32-36). That this ceremonial institution was new is shown by the fact that Moses put that man in jail until he could inquire from Godwhat should be done. Don’t you know that if God’s people had been keeping the sabbath 2,500 years,they would have knownwhat to do with a man who violated it? (Incidentally, God commanded that he be stoned to death. I have not heard of any modern Sabbatarians thus punishing the violation of their favorite law. If the seventh day sabbath were still in force,the death penalty for violating it would also still be in force.)
And so, my friends, I boldly declare that there is no verse of Scripture in the Bible which shows that any man ever kept the sabbath during the period from Adam to Moses. In the history that covers this period of approximately 2,500 years there is no commandment to keep the sabbath; there is no example of man’s resting on the seventh day; there is no promise of reward for his doing so; there is no threat of punishment for his failing to do so. Those who teach that the seventh day sabbath was in force during this period are urgently requested to cite the text that says so. Since they cannot do so, the first pillar in the foundation of the seventh day sabbath theory is completely destroyed.It is simply nonexistent.
Coming now to the second part of the diagram (p. 144), I emphatically deny that there is any place in the Bible to show that God ever commanded the Gentile nations to keep the sabbath day, even during the Mosaic dispensation. Seventh Day Adventists are obligatedto furnish the text which says that he did so, but they cannot furnish it. In fact, there are plenty of Scriptures to show that this ceremonial institution was not in force among the Gentiles.
Speaking of the sabbath, God said, “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever ...” (Ex. 31:17). If the other nations had been observing the seventh day sabbath also, it could not have been a sign between God and the Jews. Down in the country where I was reared each farmer had a certain mark which he used to distinguish his livestock in the woods from that of others. For instance, one fellow split his hogs’ ears at two places. That was his mark, but if every other farmer used the same mark, it would cease to be a sign of the stock which belonged to that particular man. If every ranchman in the West used the same brand for his cattle, it would not be a sign of that which belonged to any one in particular.Yet the sabbath was a sign between God and the children of Israel.Therefore, it was peculiar to that law which applied to them, and was not a part of any other law given by Jehovah to any other people or at any other time.
The sabbath was a memorial to an event peculiar to the Jewish family. “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. 5:15). The Gentiles were never delivered from Egyptian bondage and, therefore, could notobserve the sabbath in memory of any such event. This Scripture not only proves that the Gentiles were not commanded to observe the sabbath, but also that the Jews themselves did not keep ituntil afterthey were delivered from Egypt. If a stranger desired to become identified with the Jewish nation and religion he waspermittedto do so by submitting to the Jewish law, including the sabbath regulation (Isa. 56:3-7). In this event he ceased to be a Gentile religiously, but became a Jew instead. If the sabbath had been a universal practice, it would not have been necessary for a proselyte tobeginobserving it when he submitted to the Jewish religion. What has been said proves conclusively that the sabbath was purely aJewishinstitution. I most urgently request that those who advocate the observance of the Jewish sabbath show us at least one verse of Scripture in which God ever commanded the Gentiles to do so. This theycannotdo. Hence, the second pillar essential to the support of their theory is completely lacking.
Coming now to the last section in the diagram (onpage 144), I emphatically deny that there is any verse of Scripture which states that God ever commandedanybodyto keep the sabbath day since Jesus died on the cross. No one can find such a text in the Bible. I’m not unaware of some attempts made along thatline by Seventh Day Sabbatarians. For instance, they refer to Matthew 24:20, where Jesus told his disciples to pray that, when the city of Jerusalem was destroyed (inA.D.70), they might not have to make their flight on the sabbath day. But the very same verse tells them to pray likewise that their flight be not in the winter. He told them to pray that their flight be not in the winter because it would be difficult to travel and find comfortable shelter at that season. In like manner, they were told to pray that their flight be not on the sabbath day because the unconverted Jews would still be observing the sabbath and in harmony with the commandment given by Nehemiah (ch. 13, vss. 15-17) would keep the gates of the city closed throughout the sabbath day. Under such conditions it would have been almost impossible for the Christians to have fled from the city on the sabbath day. It was for that reason that they were told to pray that their flight be not on the sabbath. Such instructions on the part of Jesus did not imply that the Christians would be expected toreston the seventh day.
Naturally you can find examples of unconverted Jews keeping the sabbath day after Jesus died on the cross. Paul went to their synagogues and preached to them on Saturday, telling them that they were no longer obligated to keep the law of Moses. We have a parallel case in Nashville today. The Seventh Day Adventists have advertised a religious meeting at the War Memorial Auditorium tonight. That does not mean that they recognize Sunday as the sabbath day,for they do not. The apostle Paul went to the synagogue where the people were on Saturday to preach to them. That does not mean that he recognized Saturday as the sabbath day, for he did not.
The sabbath is mentioned sixty times in the New Testament. Forty-three of these cases are in connection with the life of Jesus Christ. According to the flesh, Christ was a Jew. He was born under the law, “to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4, 5). Before taking the law out of the way (Col. 2:14), hefulfilledit byobeyingit perfectly (Matt. 5:17, 18). Naturally, he kept the sabbath, just as he kept the passover and all the other ceremonies of the law of Moses. All of this occurred before Christ died and, therefore, before his will, under which we are now living, went into effect (Heb. 9:15, 17).
In Bible history following the death of Christ, the sabbath is mentioned seventeen times. In sixteen of these cases it refers to the worship of the unconverted Jews. In the other case, the only one found in the Epistles, it is used to state thatChristians are not expected to observe it. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days ...” (Col. 2:16). Friends, all of this simply confirms and emphasizes the conclusion that there is absolutely not one word of Scripture to show that God ever commanded any Christian to regard the seventh day of the week as a sabbath day.
Christians are taught to worship on the first day of the week. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 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 gathering when I come” (1 Cor. 16:1, 2). The last phrase in this quotation shows that Paul did not refer to merely laying aside some money at home but rather to putting money into a common treasury. This definitely implies that the church was accustomed to meeting on the first day of the week. The purpose of this weekly assembling was to eat the Lord’s supper. They were rebuked for allowing something to interfere with this holy purpose (1 Cor. 11:20-26).
The importance of this assembling on the first day of the week to eat the Lord’s supper is clearly revealed. “... and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:24, 25). Under the guidance of the inspired apostle the church at Troas also met to eat the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7).
Seventh Day Adventists teach that the Catholic Church changed the sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, and challenge the public to cite the Scripture which says that the first day of the week is the sabbath.There is no such scripture. The first day of the week is not the sabbath! It is the day on which Christians ought to eat the Lord’s supper.It is a day ofworship, not necessarily a day ofrest. Neitherrestnorworkshould be allowed to interfere with a Christian’sworshipon the first day of the week. We have met today to eat the Lord’s supper by the authority of the Scriptures cited above and not by the authority of any church. Christians were eating the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week several hundred years before the Roman Catholic Church came into existence. I hereby challenge the Sabbatarians to furnish even one word of Bible authority for eating the Lord’s supper on Saturday.
Christians are living under the reign of Christ. They are expected to obey the word that God hath spoken unto us by his Son (Heb. 1:2). This word is called the will, or testament, of Christ. As in the case of human wills, it became of force when he died on the cross. “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Heb.6:16, 17). The will of Christ teaches Christians to worship on the first day of the week, but it does not teach them to rest on the seventh day. The will of Christ forbids murder, stealing, lying, and such like (Rom. 13:9), but it does not forbid working on Saturday. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). This grace teaches righteous living (Titus 2:11, 12), but it does not teach that Saturday should be observed as a sabbath.
When the will of Christ was established by his death on the cross, the law which God had given to the Jews through Moses at Sinai came to an end. This the Bible abundantly teaches. “He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second” (Heb. 10:9). “But we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the Spirit, and not in oldness of the letter” (Rom. 7:6 ARV). In 2 Corinthians 3:6-18 we have a contrast between the law given at Sinai, including the sabbath commandments (see verse), and the will of Christ. The former was glorious; the latter much more glorious. The former was done away; the latter remaineth. “For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.”
In Galatians, chapter 3, speaking of the law God gave to the Jews at Sinai, 430 years after his covenant with Abraham, Paul says, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faithis come we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24, 25). I ask you if words could be plainer. “The law was our schoolmaster ... we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Is that sufficient? Do I need to cite other texts, such as Colossians 2:14-16; Ephesians 2:10-22; Galatians 4:1-31, etc.? No wonder Paul said in Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are (he who would be—ARV) justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
Beloved, you have seen that the commandment to remember the sabbath day and keep it holy is confined to the law God gave to the Jews through Moses in the wilderness. It is not named in the history of God’s people during the 2,500 years prior to that time.It is peculiar to the law of Moses.It is not found at any other place in the Bible. It was not in force during the patriarchal dispensation. Even during the Mosaic age, or dispensation, it never applied to the Gentiles. It is not binding during the Christian dispensation. It has no place in the will of Christ. The only law in which it is found fulfilled its purpose, was fulfilled by Christ, and was taken out of the way when he died on the cross.
The law of Moses could not take away sins; the will of Christ can (Rom. 1:16). I beseech you by the mercies of God to believe the will of Christ, obey its commandments, and enjoy its promises. The will ofChrist says to believers, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). The will of Christ says, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
The law of Christ teaches us to worship God in spirit and in truth, by singing, praying, studying, teaching and by laying by in store and eating the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week. The law of Christ teaches us to love God with all our heart, power, soul, mind and strength; to love our neighbors as ourselves and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. The will of Christ promises the faithful a crown of everlasting life. This is the perfect law of liberty. It is holy, just and good. It is complete. It is a glorious law. Its glory outshines that of all other laws as the sun outshines the stars (2 Cor. 3:10). It furnishes the man of God completely unto every good work. It is the law of life, rather than the law of death. It is the law of eternal happiness, rather than the law of condemnation.
Don’t you want to hear Christ and obey this new law enacted upon better promises, glorious in its origin, glorious in its power and purpose, and glorious because it leads to a life of eternal glory for all of those who faithfully follow it? While we stand and sing we bid you come to Jesus and let him save you from all your sins.
Those of you who were present last Lord’s day remember that I spoke on the topic “The Sabbath.” Since that time I have received several letters from people who were not able to be present, but who requested that I send them a copy of the lesson presented. I’m glad to announce that the sermon was recorded by dictaphone and will be ready for free distribution soon. I have also received many requests that I continue today along the same line that was begun last Lord’s day. To these requests I am conceding. It would be more pleasant to preach without naming the mistakes of others but, when the souls of men and women are involved, we cannot afford to shirk our duty.
The main points in the lesson last Lord’s day were as follows:
1. Bible history is divided into three periods: the Patriarchal Dispensation; the Mosaic Dispensation; and the Christian Dispensation.2. There was no sabbath during the first period which lasted from Adam to Moses.3. The sabbath commandment never applied to the Gentiles—not even during the Mosaic dispensation.4. The sabbath commandment was confined to the law of Moses which was abolished when Christ died on the cross.5. Christians are not required to rest on Saturday.6. Christians are taught to worship on the first day of the week.
1. Bible history is divided into three periods: the Patriarchal Dispensation; the Mosaic Dispensation; and the Christian Dispensation.
2. There was no sabbath during the first period which lasted from Adam to Moses.
3. The sabbath commandment never applied to the Gentiles—not even during the Mosaic dispensation.
4. The sabbath commandment was confined to the law of Moses which was abolished when Christ died on the cross.
5. Christians are not required to rest on Saturday.
6. Christians are taught to worship on the first day of the week.
In the correspondence received since last Lord’s day there is no word of criticism or objection. I take the silence to mean that those who were present were convinced that what was said was based on Bible authority. I am determined that the same shall be true of what I say today. It is my prayerful purpose to preach nothing but what is plainly revealed in the Bible.
The ushers have given you a mimeographed copy of some of the main points to be discussed in today’s lesson. You may use these papers to make further notes, especially to take note of the Bible references used, that you may go home and read them for yourselves and see that what we say is true. The noble people of Berea searched the Scriptures daily to see whether they had heard the truth. If all people would do that, it would not be so easy for error to gain acceptance.
In my hand I hold a copy of one of the so-called Bible lessons distributed by the Seventh Day Adventists. The title of this pamphlet is “The Two Laws.” That title implies that God has never given but two laws. That is a mistake. God has given different laws to different people at different times, as the occasion and his eternal purpose required. His law to Adam before the fall was different from his law to Adam after the fall. His law to Cain was not the same as his law to Noah. His law to Abram was not identical with his law to the Jews. His law since Christ died on the cross is quite different from any law he gave before that time.
God does not change (Mal. 3:6) buthe changes his lawsaccording to his wisdom. “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law” (Heb. 7:12). God has never had two different laws applying to the same people at the same time. “He taketh away the first that he may establish the second” (Heb. 10:9). The law given the Jews at Sinai was a unit. It was one law, not two laws.
In the lesson last Lord’s day such Scriptures as Romans 7:6; Hebrews 6:8-13; Hebrews 10:9; Colossians 2:13-16; and Galatians 3:17, 24, 25 were quoted to show that the law which God gave to the Jews through Moses at Mt. Sinai was fulfilled and taken out of the way when Christ died. The Seventh DayAdventists admit that all of this law was taken out of the way except Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They are thus committed to the fact that God sometimes changes his laws. When they teach that God abolishedpartof that law they admit that he could have abolishedallof it; and that isexactly what he did. I want you to read those Scriptures and note that they speak of “the law,” not a “part of the law.” For instance, “But now we are delivered from the law (not ‘part of the law’) ...” (Rom. 7:6). “Wherefore the law (not ‘part of the law’) was our schoolmaster ... but that after faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24-25).
Where is the Scripture that says that apart of that lawwas abolished? Every text which teaches that a part of it was taken away teaches thatallof it was taken away and a new law, the law of Christ, was given, not to the Jews only but to the whole world.
At this point I want to read to you the leading sentence in this Adventist pamphlet we are reviewing:
“The New Testament Scriptures clearly present two different divisions of the Old Testament laws: the moral law as summed up in the Ten Commandments, which is binding on Christians as a rule of life and conduct; the ceremonial law of typical ordinances, which was abolished at the cross and from which Christians are entirely free.”
“The New Testament Scriptures clearly present two different divisions of the Old Testament laws: the moral law as summed up in the Ten Commandments, which is binding on Christians as a rule of life and conduct; the ceremonial law of typical ordinances, which was abolished at the cross and from which Christians are entirely free.”
I want you to carefully note what that quotationsays. It says that the New Testament Scripturesclearly presenttwo laws in the Old Testament—the “moral law” and the “ceremonial law.” Now I want to ask you a simple question. How in this world could the New Testament Scriptures clearly present something that is not even mentioned anywhere in the Bible? Friends, think of it! “Moral” law and “ceremonial” law are not mentioned in your Bible. That is not Bible language. In order to prove the sabbath theory by the Bible it will be necessary to find each of these four texts:
1. The text which says that the “ceremonial” law was abolished.2. The text which says that the “moral” law is still binding.3. The text which says that Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 are the “moral law.”4. The text which says that the rest of the law given through Moses is the “ceremonial” law.
1. The text which says that the “ceremonial” law was abolished.
2. The text which says that the “moral” law is still binding.
3. The text which says that Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 are the “moral law.”
4. The text which says that the rest of the law given through Moses is the “ceremonial” law.
How can such texts be found when you may search your Bible from the first word in Genesis to the last word in Revelation and you will find neither the word “moral” nor the word “ceremonial”? Those words are not in the Bible. I challenge the Sabbatarians to find either of them.
Even if the first two texts named above could be found, the Adventist theory would not be established unless the last two could also be found. In fact, it would be destroyed, for in the very nature of the case the sabbath commandment is a ceremonial one.There is nothing moral about it. According toWebster(theBibledoesn’t mention the word) amoralcommandment is one that’s based on common sense and on our natural knowledge of what rules should guide us in our relationships one to another. The sabbath commandment does not come in this class. There’s nothing moral about one day in the week any more than another. Nothing could distinguish one day from another, except a positive decree from God Almighty. In that case it would be ceremonial. If you were to sleep for an indefinite period, upon awaking you wouldn’t know the day of the week. You couldn’t tell Saturday from any other day to save your life. As far as our natural senses go, one day is just like another. There is no authority, Biblical or otherwise, for calling Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 the “moral law” and the rest of the Mosaic code the “ceremonial law.”
The Bible speaks of the law which God gave to the Jews in the wilderness in the singular, as one law, not two laws. Such expressions as “the book of the law of Moses,” “the law,” “the book of the law,” and “the law of God” are used interchangeably in the Bible to designate all of the Jewish law (See Nehemiah 8:1, 2, 3, 8). They are never used to distinguish one part of it from another part. “The law of Moses” and “the law of the Lord” are used interchangeablyin Luke 2:21-24. All of it is called “the law of God” because God was the author of all of it. It is called “the law of Moses” because it was all given through Moses as a mediator (Gal. 3:19; John 1:17; Deut. 5:5). It was all written by Moses (Exod. 31:24-27). Exodus 20:2-17 was originally written by the finger of God on tables of stone but those tables were destroyed (Exod. 32:19) and it was written the second time by Moses himself (Exod. 34:27, 28). The only thing we know about that law today is what Moses wrote in the first five books of the Bible. It was all given at the same time, through the same mediator, to the same people, by the same authority, for the same purpose, and was all taken “out of the way” at the cross (Col. 2:14-16).
In an effort to make it appear that God gave two laws (one “ceremonial,” the other “moral,” one eternal and the other temporal) to the Jews at Sinai, this pamphlet has arranged, in parallel columns. Scriptures that apparently do not apply to the same law. This is well designed to confuse or mislead the untaught; but, in fact, it proves absolutely nothing. The Bible speaks of many other laws in addition to the one God gave to the Jews in the wilderness. For instance, “the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2); “the law of the Medes and Persians” (Dan. 6:8); “the law of my mind” and “the law of sin” (Rom. 7:23); “the law of works”; “the law of faith” (Rom. 3:27); “the law of liberty” (Jas. 2:12); “the royal law” (Jas. 2:8); etc., etc. In addition to all this, there are the laws or commandments that God gave to Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, et al.
With the Bible speaking of so many different laws, it is not surprising that you can find references that apparently do not apply to the same law. It would be surprising if you couldn’t. In order to harmonize such texts it certainly is not necessary to apply them to two imaginary laws that are not even named in the word of God. The law of faith wasestablishedat the cross; the law God gave to the Jews wasabolishedat the cross (Eph. 2:10-22). The law of Christ is written on the hearts of Christians; the law of Moses was written, in part, on tablets of stone (Heb. 8:8-11). The author of the pamphlet places three references from Romans, chapter 7, in his “moral” column. Even if he were correct in doing this, his theory would still be ruined, for verse 6 of that same chapter says, “But now we have been discharged from the law ...” (ARV).
Some of the references placed in opposing columns by the author really apply to the same law, and present no conflict whatsoever. For instance, the law which God gave the Jews at Sinai was bothestablishedandabolished. It was first established and then abolished. It could not have been abolished if it had not first been established. It was established by the life of Christ; it was abolished by the death of Christ. Christ came not to destroythe laworthe prophetsbut to fulfill (Matt. 5:17, 18). Jesus said “... all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). Christ fulfilled every prophecy concerning the Messiah in the law andobeyed every commandment in the law. In that sense he established the law, and after having done so, he abolished it when he died upon the cross. Salvation through faith and obedience to Christ is in fulfillment of the prophecies found in the law of Moses. In that sense the law of faith establishes the law given to the Jews at Sinai and abolished by Christ when he was crucified (Col. 2:14-16).
Not a single text listed by the author in his parallel columns serves to establish the distinction for which he contends. If this is the best he can do in that respect, it only serves to advertise the weakness of his contention. Every text he cites refers either to the law God gave the Jews at Sinai and abolished at the cross, or to the law God gave to the world through Christ and which went into force when he died at Calvary. When this is so clearly the case, isn’t it strange that a preacher would try to make it appear that these Scriptures apply to two imaginary laws that are not even named in these texts or at any other place in the Bible?
Since the law given at Sinai was a unit, every Scripture which teaches that it was taken away at the cross, indeed teaches that it was taken away as a whole, in its entirety. Please listen again then to Ephesians 2:11-18: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh ... ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel ... but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both[Jew and Gentile] one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain [Jew and Gentile] one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ... for through him we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
The entire law of Moses, andespecially the sabbath commandment(Ex. 31:16, 17), was the middle wall of partition between the Jews and Gentiles. The Holy Spirit says in the text just quoted that it wasbroken down,abolished, at the cross. This text is a sample of the many additional texts that could be cited to show that the entire Sinaitic law was taken out of the way at the cross, but even one is enough to convince all who love the truth. In Colossians 3:13-16 the Holy Spirit clearly teaches that this law has been taken out of the way, and that,therefore, the Jews themselves are no longer required to keep the sabbaths of the Old Testament. Since the middle wall of partition has been broken down, there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ, but all are one—Christian.
The fact that the law of Moses in its entirety, including even the Ten Commandments, has beentaken out of the way does not mean that Christians are without restraint, guidance and law. God hath “spoken unto us by his son” (Heb. 1:1-2). This word that God hath spoken unto us through Christ is called “the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2) or the testament of Christ (Heb. 9:13-17). It is the law of love (Rom. 13:8-10). The law of Christ, which has been applicable to all the world since his death, contains several commandments that were never included in any other law given to man. For instance, the commandment to be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38); the commandment to lay by in store on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1, 2); and the commandment to eat the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 20:7).
The law of Moses forbade murder; the law of Christ forbids not only murder but even needless anger (Matt. 5:21-22). The law of Moses forbade adultery; the law of Christ forbids looking upon a woman to lust after her (Matt. 5:27, 28). The law of Moses forbade false swearing; the law of Christ forbids all swearing (Matt. 5:33-37). It was wrong for the Jews to work on Saturday, for the law of Moses forbade it (Deut. 5:12-15; Exod. 20:8-11). It is not wrong for a Christian to work on Saturday, for the law of Christ does not forbid it (Col. 2:16). The law of Moses did not require the Jews to engage in special worship on the first day of the week; the law of Christdoes requireChristians to do so (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 11:17-30; Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:24, 25). It is wrong for Christians to steal, kill, covet, etc., notbecause Moses said so, but because the law of Christ says so (Rom. 3:8-10).
There was a time to hear Moses but that time has passed. On the mountain of transfiguration, a cloud overshadowed Moses and the voice of God said concerning Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM” (Matt. 17:5). Christians should obey Christ, not Moses. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11, 12).
Friends, would you believe me if I were to tell you that the Seventh Day Adventists deny the existence of the word spoken through Christ? Well, just let me read it to you from the last section of the pamphlet under review.
“The abolition of the Ten Commandments would nullify the gospel of Christ, and render both grace and the atonement void. ‘Sin is not imputed when there is no law’ (Romans 5:13). Since ‘where no law is, there is no transgression’ (Romans 4:15), it follows that if the law [meaning the ten commandments] were abolished, there would be no transgression, and hence no need of a Saviour.”
“The abolition of the Ten Commandments would nullify the gospel of Christ, and render both grace and the atonement void. ‘Sin is not imputed when there is no law’ (Romans 5:13). Since ‘where no law is, there is no transgression’ (Romans 4:15), it follows that if the law [meaning the ten commandments] were abolished, there would be no transgression, and hence no need of a Saviour.”
I can’t believe the author meant to say that, but he said it. According to that, the “ten commandments” are theonlycommandments now in force. That quotation plainly says that if the “ten commandments” are not now in force there are no commandmentsto disobey, no chance to sin, and no need of a Saviour. The author has flatly denied every commandment in the gospel. According to him, Christ gave no commandments and it is folly to talk aboutobeyingthe gospel (See 2 Thess. 1:8). If the author was aware of what he was saying, he has deliberately denied the word of Christ. If he said it inadvertently, it simply illustrates the absurdities and inconsistencies into which one falls when he undertakes to teach error.
Summarizing what was said last Lord’s day and what has been said today, I am earnestly requesting the Seventh Day Adventists to furnish the following Bible texts which are essential to the support of their theory:
1. The text that commanded any one to keep the sabbath during the period from Adam to Moses.2. The text that commanded the Gentile nations to observe Saturday as a day of rest, even during the Mosaic dispensation.3. The text in the new covenant, or will of Christ, that commands Christians to rest on Saturday.4. The text which says that any one ever ate the Lord’s Supper on Saturday.5. The text that even mentions either “moral law” or “ceremonial law.”
1. The text that commanded any one to keep the sabbath during the period from Adam to Moses.
2. The text that commanded the Gentile nations to observe Saturday as a day of rest, even during the Mosaic dispensation.
3. The text in the new covenant, or will of Christ, that commands Christians to rest on Saturday.
4. The text which says that any one ever ate the Lord’s Supper on Saturday.
5. The text that even mentions either “moral law” or “ceremonial law.”
In the papers furnished you by the ushers you have a copy of this request for Scriptures. Just to showyou how earnest I am about this matter, I’m offering a reward of $100 to the finder of either of these texts. This offer is backed by my personal integrity and sufficient resources. I’m not making it to be dramatic, but to impress you with the fact that no such Scriptures are in the Bible. And yet, friends, these Scriptures are absolutely essential to the support of the sabbath theory. Without these texts, that theory has absolutely not one leg on which to stand. The absence of these Scriptures leaves that theory without any support whatsoever.
As further evidence of my sincerity, I want to make you a proposition. If there is anybody in this audience who believes he knows now where to find one of these texts, I’m giving you a chance to let it be known. I’ll turn to the reference you give, read the text you cite, and see whether it meets the demand. We will not have you arrested for disturbing public worship, or undertake to embarrass you in any way. If you will just raise your hand and let me know where you are, I’ll give you a chance to stand up and cite your Scripture. If any one here even thinks he knows where to find one of these texts, we are giving you permission to speak up now. (Pause. No response.) Well, even if you can’t find it now, maybe you believe you can when you get home. If so, just write to me. My address is on the paper you have. You may write to me in care of the Chapel Avenue Church of Christ, Nashville 6, Tenn. If you want to collect $500, just let me know where those five texts are. I’m simply saying this, friends, toemphasize that the very texts essential to the sabbath theory are not in the Bible. Until the Lord gives us a new Bible, there is no danger of my having to put out any money on this offer.
Beloved, in closing I beseech you to hear Christ and obey his gospel. On the condition that you believe, repent, and be baptized, he promises you pardon. On the condition that you remain faithful to the end, he promises you everlasting life. His gospel has facts to be believed, commandments to be obeyed and promises to be enjoyed. While we stand and sing, we are urging you to come to him and let him save you.