p. 5 | Sunday-Keeping Not a Part of the Counsel of God

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 15, 1912

Sunday-Keeping Not a Part of the Counsel of God

By Francis M. Wilcox

We often meet the argument that the Lord reserved the change in the Sabbath institution for the Gentile age, and that with the sending of the gospel to the Gentiles there was given them a new sabbath day separate and distinct from the Sabbath observed during the Jewish economy. This claim, however, like many of its fellows in behalf of First-day observance, is found to be wholly untenable when viewed in the light of the New Testament record.

Paul was the great apostle to the Gentile world, even as Peter was to the Jewish world. His statement in the closing days of his ministry forever sets at rest the charge that in his teachings to the Gentile converts he inaugurated any new system of doctrines or new institutions unknown to the fathers. He preached one great truth, namely, the fulfilment of the predictions of the Jewish prophets in the manifestation of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. Every move he made and every word he uttered was closely watched. If by any means in their power his traducers could have brought his work into disrepute, or his ministry under the shadow of reproach, they would have done so. After Paul reached Rome, shortly before he sealed his testimony with his blood at the hands of Nero, he preached, as his custom was, to his own countrymen. He called the chief of the Jews together, and said to them:—

“Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” Acts 28:17.

Here the apostle definitely and emphatically declares that in his ministry he had committed nothing against the people or the customs of his fathers, and this the Jews at Rome personally acknowledged when they replied to his address:—

“And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” Verses 21, 22.

How rejoiced would have been his persecutors if they could have found a single instance where Paul cast discredit upon the law of the ten commandments, and particularly upon the Sabbath institution, which, with all their superstition, they so greatly venerated. But such occasion they could not find in all his teachings; with such offense he was never charged; and such occasion the apostle emphatically denies, in the scripture already quoted, ever having given.

In all his ministry, as he stated to the elders of the church at Philippi, he had not failed to declare the whole counsel of God. He says: “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, . . . for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:20-27.

But we may search his writings through and through, and not one single word shall we find regarding the sacredness of the first day of the week; but on the other hand we shall find him asking pointedly, “Do we then make void the law through faith?” In answer to this question he states emphatically, “God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Rom. 3:31.

May God grant that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ may not lead us to make void in our practise the law which he made to be revered and honored in the lives of his children. Its violation cost the shedding of his precious blood. To-day every sinner stands under its condemnation. We are saved only by his free grace, by his being made to suffer for us, by the imputation of his righteousness. May we never seek to continue in sin, in the violation of the law, that grace may abound; but being made free, may we become the servants of righteousness, and the willing, obedient subjects of the government of heaven.

F. M. W.