Convinced of What?

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 13, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 28.

Convinced of What?

A friend in Newburg Park, Cal., sends us a page article telling “the grounds of his conviction” “on the keeping of the Sunday.” He says that his “convictions are basted upon God’s Word.” He probably meant “based,” but he wrote more truly, “basted.” He argues thus:—

1. Jesus said that “the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:28. He had a right to control it.

2. Jesus arose on the first day of the week and sanctified it. Matt. 28:1. Therefore it is holy. He met His disciples that night.

3. “After eight days” (that is at the close of the next first day, which would be the eighth day), Jesus met them again. John 20:26. Thus by His example established its sacredness.

Now let us see: (1) Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. As Creator He made it, set it apart, gave it to man. John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Gen. 2:2, 3. He also gave its unchangeable law; for through Him spoke the Father. Ex. 20:8-11; Ps. 111:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20. (2) He arose on the morning of the first day of the week, but that did not sanctify the day any more than did His crucifixion and ascension sanctify the days on which those events occurred. Nowhere does the Bible say it is sanctified or holy. The view that it is, is not based on, but “basted” on, the Bible (as our friend’s typewriter has it), and with very rotten thread, too. (3) Christ met with His disciples after the first day had passed. They had gathered together in the close of that day to their common abode (Acts 1:13), but the day was over when Jesus met with them. “After eight days” from that time would carry us over to the second or third day of the week. The Bible knows the eighth day of a feast, but never the eighth day of the week. The next time Jesus met with His disciples that “by His example” He might establish the “sacredness” (?) of the first day was on a fishing occasion. There is no holiness predicated or assumed of the first day in Acts 20:7 or 1 Cor. 16:1, 2. See article on page 5.

But here is the strange thing: After contending for a “holy” first day as the Sabbath, our correspondent, after quoting Rom. 14:4-6, declares: “So it is not the number of the day, but the manner in which it is kept, that makes it acceptable with God.” But God says: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” The traditions of men are not the commandments of God. Truly our friend’s mistake spoke loudly the truth: All first-day holiness and obligation is “basted,” not based, on the Bible. Why not build on the rock of God’s law and Christ’s example?