THE TRUE SABBATH by J. H. Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 15, 1880

THE TRUE SABBATH.

By J. H. Waggoner

WE are always pleased to notice the objections of those who honestly differ with us in regard to religious truth. We may honestly differ when each walks according to the best light he has on the sacred word. But when we come to a correct understanding of the word our differences must then cease, or if we choose still to differ we cannot do it without blame. For the word of God is yea, and amen,—not "yea and nay." The Scriptures do not speak one thing to one man and a contrary thing to another man. Excusable differences are the result of a want of correct knowledge of the inspired word.

Objections offered by those who are walking up to the best light they have are evidences that such persons are interested in the subject, and are willing to investigate the Scriptures. We repeat, we are pleased to notice objections offered under such circumstances.

An interested reader of the Signs in Arizona, writes to a member of the Oakland V. M. Society as follows, concerning the Sabbath :—

"The whole tenor of God's word clearly indicates that the command is that we devote one-seventh part of our time to His service, or rather, that we hallow one day in seven, and keep it sacred, because he has commanded us so to do."

We know how to sympathize with the writer of this paragraph. We remember when, under the influence of the popular teaching, we thought just so, and felt warranted in acting accordingly. But when we examined the teachings of the Scriptures we were astonished to find that there is no indication in God's word that we are required to "devote one-seventh part of our time to His service," except as it relates to "the seventh day ;" or to "hallow one day in seven," for he has not commanded us so to do.

The Sabbath and Sabbath obligation are many times mentioned in the Bible, and that in no indefinite language. But in all cases, whether it speaks of the act of instituting, of the institution itself, of the consecration or sanctifying, the precept or obligation, either in commandment or history, it invariably speaks of "the seventh day," and of no other. It never speaks indefinitely, as of a seventh day, a seventh part of time, or one day in seven. An examination of the Bible must convince every one that this is true. Therefore to say that "the whole tenor of God's word" indicates the duty to keep a day, indefinite, or any day, as we may select, is to speak unadvisedly. Even those texts in the New Testament, which speak of the Sabbath, but do not specially mention the seventh day, show, in their connection, that the seventh day is the day to which reference is made. As in the gospels, where it is distinguished from, and immediately precedes, the first day of the week. And in the gospels, and in the book of Acts, where it is connected with the usage and custom of the Jews, who kept "the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:56 ; 24:1, etc. All these show that reference is made to the seventh day and to no other whenever mention is made of the Sabbath in the Scriptures. The writer continues:—

"Then why so much labor to change the day that is recognized as the Sabbath by all Christian lands and people, to the seventh day, unless God's command laid stress on the day, and not the observance of a Sabbath holy to the Lord?"

It is a mistake to suppose that all Christian people recognize the first day as the Sabbath. That has never been the case. The fourth commandment has always had witnesses among the followers of Christ. But this is no particular argument for or against any day or any thing. "What say the Scriptures?" This is our appeal. And God did lay stress on the day. He never commanded a Sabbath to be kept. It was the day that was at first set apart. "And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it." Gen. 2:3. It was sanctified (set apart for observance,) for a reason which applies to the seventh day and to it only. "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day." Ex. 20:11. He did not rest on any day other than the seventh. The whole institution is of the day. "Wherefore"—for this reason, that he rested the seventh day—"the Lord blessed the Sabbath day (day of the rest) and hallowed it." So also in Gen. 2:3, the Lord "God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested from all his work." To this fact and to this day only the commandment refers. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." And it enforces this by an explanatory precept. "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work." No other day could thus be enforced as the Sabbath or rest day of Jehovah, for he did not rest on any other day from all his work which he created. He does not say, "a seventh part of time is a Sabbath." Reference is made to a specified occurrence which relates to no day but the specified day—the seventh day.

On no subject in all the Bible is inspiration more definite and restrictive. It leaves no latitude for supposition; no room for inferences or misapplications. It appears very much of an oversight to declare that God's word accepts any day except the seventh day as the Sabbath.

Again the writer says:—

"If I observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath, and keep it holy as he has commanded, and do all else as well, think you he will say, Depart from me, I never knew you."

In the light of the scriptures we have just quoted the writer must see that this is a misapprehension. God never commanded him or any one to keep the first day of the week. No precept on that subject was ever given from Heaven. "Where no law is there is no transgression." "By the law is the knowledge of sin."

It is also a mistake to suppose that it is possible to keep holy the first day of the week. Our position is that a day must first be made holy before we can keep it holy. In the first quotation here given the writer says, "God commanded that we hallow one day in seven." But God did not so command. What are the facts concerning the sanctity of the seventh day? 1. God rested on the seventh day. 2. For this reason he blessed and hallowed the seventh day. Both cause and consequent are stated in Gen. 2:3. "And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested." So also in Ex. 20:11.

Now we inquire, How shall we, or how can we hallow the first day of the week? We presume the answer will be, By resting on it, and devoting it to the service of God. But this would not affect that result. Did God's resting on the seventh day day hallow it? No; he hallowed it by an express and separate act, because he had rested on it. Surely, if God's resting on the seventh day did not hallow that day, our resting on the first day will not hallow it. Is our rest so much more important than that of the Creator that it will effect what his would not? When we consider the subject carefully, does it not look like presumption to affirm that we can hallow the first day?

Again, the statement is essentially erroneous, that we can keep the first day holy, as we can keep the seventh. Of the latter we can preserve its sanctity because that God himself has sanctified it. But the former was never sanctified by Jehovah, and of course we cannot preserve relations which never existed. We cannot make it holy as God did the seventh; and cannot keep it holy, for it was never made holy.

Nor is the case made better by saying that the first day is our Sabbath as the seventh day was the Jewish Sabbath. 1. The Bible never calls the seventh day the Jewish Sabbath, but the Sabbath of the Lord. It is Jehovah's rest day, because it is related to his work, and not to a work wrought by the Jews. The Jews did not create the world in six days and rest the seventh day. 2. The Lord never commanded us to keep our Sabbath. Says Jehovah, "Verily, my Sabbaths ye shall keep." "The seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord." "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day."

The writer speaks of some (supposed) New Testament facts which we may notice at another time. We invite him to examine these points carefully and with prayer. And we pray that the Spirit of God may guide him in his investigations, and lead him to obey the sacred word by which alone man is sanctified. John 17:17.

J. H. WAGGONER.