p. 24 | THE LAW AGAIN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 14, 1902

THE LAW AGAIN.

A BROTHER has sent us a copy of The Gospel Preacher, of Granbury, Tex., of Nov. 14, 1901, in which the editor endeavors to thrash over some old straw on the Sabbath question. He says, “Christ in many instances condemned the superstitious observance of the Jewish sabbath.” Suppose He did. He would do that in reference to any Sabbath, but that is all He did do in reference to the seventh-day Sabbath. He condemned the traditions and superstitions of the Jews; for by them, He said they made void the commandments of God. Matt. 15:3, 6. The editor continues, in contrast with what he calls the Jewish sabbath, “We are prepared to show that God has more highly honored the Christian sabbath [meaning Sunday] than any other day known to history, sacred or profane.” By oft repetition men come to think such rash statements are true. But it is the broadest declaration, with the least foundation, that it would be possible to utter. How has Christ put all this honor on Sunday? He never called it the Sabbath; never gave it any sacred title; never commanded its observance, nor condemned its violation; never indicated by example that it was entitled to any regard, nor promised any reward for keeping it, nor threatened any loss for not observing it; in fact, He never took the name of the day into His lips. How then can it be said that He more highly honored it than any other day known to history, sacred or profane? Men who make such assertions have not the least idea of what they are talking about.

After throwing together a mass of references, and dancing over them without reference to their relevancy, or bearing, he says, in conclusion: “If any part of the law has become void, tell us what part it is, and just what part remains for Christians to keep.” Christ answers this question: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matt. 5:17. None of the primary, original, moral laws are relaxed, made void, or taken out of the way. That law was binding on all men from the beginning, saint and sinner alike, and will be till the end of time.

Here is another equally presumptuous proposition: “Can you give chapter and verse in the Bible where Gentiles were ever commanded to keep the Jewish sabbath?” It is positively wearisome to hear people harping on the “Jewish sabbath” or the “Christian sabbath.” There is no such sabbath. The Sabbath is one, as God is one. It is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Whoever is the friend of God must take His Sabbath. Who supposes that any man, Jew or Gentile, can be released from any moral obligation? Such an idea is preposterous. Such talk as the above is therefore mere claptrap. But the whole system of types, shadows, and ceremonies has fulfilled its purpose, and given place to a more direct gospel. But that does not affect the Sabbath, nor our obligation to the Ten Commandments, which are another law, on another basis. Confounding the two laws, the moral and eternal on the one hand, and the typical, ceremonial, and temporary on the other, makes most of the trouble on the law question. Avoid the trouble by keeping those laws distinct and separate so long as the subject is under contemplation.