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GEO. B. THOMPSON

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 2, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 44.

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GEO. B. THOMPSON

By GEO. B. THOMPSON

“Hard Nuts for Seventh Dayists”—No. 3

GEO. B. THOMPSON

“9. If Christians are required to keep the Sabbath, how are we to account for the open violation of the law by Jesus Christ, who is our example, unless by saying that the power that made the law can take it away, and that he did it? Matt. 12: 1-8; John 7: 22, 23.”
“Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3: 4. Breaking the Sabbath is sin. If it is true that in the life of Jesus there was “open violation” of the law, then he is a sinner, and the plan of human redemption is a failure. Back in the time when Jesus was on earth, his enemies, who finally murdered him, accused him of being a sinner. John 9: 24. It remains for those who seek an excuse for not keeping the Sabbath of the Bible to advance arguments which are equivalent to the same terrible charge against the Son of God.
We refuse to believe either the wicked charge of the ancient Pharisees against the Saviour or the present accusation. We have a sinless Redeemer, thank God. He declares of himself that he kept his Father’s commandments. John 15: 10. The Jews in the scripture cited in the question, accused the disciples of breaking the Sabbath. But Jesus defended their action by showing that it was “lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” Matt. 12: 12. He here recognized that there was a law regulating the observance of the Sabbath. There is only one divine Sabbath law, and this law declares that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Ex. 20: 8-11.
“10. If you keep the Sabbath because, as you think, it was kept before the law of Moses, why do you not practise circumcision in these ages? Gen. 17: 1-14; Gal. 5: 1-6.”
Because in the very scripture referred to in the question, we read, “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” Gal. 5: 2. When some one points us to a similar statement concerning the holy Sabbath, the seventh day, we will stop keeping it. But this can never be done. Instead, the Lord says, “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” Isa. 56: 2.
Circumcision was no part of the divine moral law, embraced in the ten commandments. This distinction the opposers of the Bible Sabbath fail to recognize, and though their attention is called to this fact, they continue to confound the two laws, and thus involve themselves in confusion.
“11. When did patriarch, prophet, or apostle, or any one else, command any Gentile to keep the law of Moses? No dodging here. Proof! Proof!! Proof!!!”
One would conclude from looking at this so-called “hard nut” that the author believed in proving things, yet he and the journals that publish these questions keep a day for the Sabbath which has not a scintilla of evidence in the Bible authorizing them to do so. Not a single text can be found commanding its observance. Jesus never kept it, nor did any of the apostles. So far as the record goes, the Son of God never mentioned the day, but during his whole life from the manger to Calvary kept the seventh day. Will the author of these questions kindly prove from the Bible that Sunday is the day to keep? “No dodging here. Proof! Proof!! Proof!!!” One text is all we ask, one precept given by the Saviour, one example, for its observance left by him who declared himself to be the way, the truth, and the life. Why not produce the scripture if it can be found? But it is of no use to ask for proof; for there is none. The Bible is as silent as the tomb on this question.
The learned author of “Binney’s Theological Compendium,” page 171, admits this. He says:—
“Jesus after his resurrection, changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. . . . When Jesus gave the instructions for this change we are not told, but very likely during the time when he spoke to his apostles of the things pertaining to his kingdom. This is probably one of the many unrecorded things which Jesus did.”
Yes, “probably.” We quote this as a sample of the proof usually put forth by learned men as well as by others for Sunday-keeping.
“We are not told” when the change was made. “Very likely;” “probably;” “many unrecorded things,”—what a shaky foundation on which to risk our hope of eternity! What has become of the Protestant rule. “The Bible, the Bible only”? Those who stand on such a foundation built on the sand of human assertion should at least be modest in asking for proof for anything. That the great moral law was designed for the whole human family the church of God has ever recognized. The Sabbath as a part of that law is equally binding with the other commandments on Christians in both dispensations. The same argument which would release Gentile Christians from its claims, would release them from the claims of every other precept of the decalogue. This point is further abundantly answered under other questions.
“12. Paul says the ministration of death written and engraved in stone (Ex. 20: 17; 31: 18; 32: 15, 16; 34: 1-28) was done away. 2 Cor. 3: 1-18. When, where, and by whom was it brought back into force? Name the day, the age, the authority, and give proof from the Book! If your doctrine is true, the great apostle of the Gentiles stands convicted of a mistake.”
The ministration of a law and the law are two different things. A man steals. The law condemns him. The ministration of the law is apprehending the thief and seeing that the penalty of the law is visited upon him. 2 Cor. 3: 1-18 says that one ministration with its glory is done away, and another ministration of more glory has taken its place. The ministration changed, but the same law remained. Nothing is said about the law being either changed or abolished.
“13. If the early Christians kept the Sabbath day, why did they break bread on the first day of the week? Acts 20: 7.”
We are told that the believers “continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” Acts 2: 46. If they broke bread “daily,” of course they must have broken bread not only on the first day of the week, but on the seventh day as well.
Then the fact that the disciples broke bread on the first day of the week is not sufficient reason for abrogating the fourth precept of the decalogue, written with the finger of God and handed down from Sinai’s burning top in such majesty and glory as the world has never since seen. There seems to be a determined effort to get rid of the law at all hazards. “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8: 7.
It seems to be any position or teaching to get rid of God’s holy day. What we want is a “Thus saith the Lord” proving that the Sabbath of God has been set aside and Sunday put in its place. Where is the text to be found in the Scriptures of truth?
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