ARE gentiles under obligation to keep the Sabbath? Was it not given to Israel alone? C. W.
As this is a frequently raised question, a few points may be worthy of consideration.
1. The Sabbath is a memorial of creation. This is demonstrated by such texts as Ps. 111:4; Gen. 2:2, 3; Ex. 20:8–11. That creation affects all who dwell upon the earth, and all are amenable to the One who created them. The Sabbath was therefore for mankind, the whole race; for “the Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27); and the “God that made the world and all things therein” also “made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” (Acts 17:24, 26). Among the times before appointed is that of the Sabbath, which originated at creation, and was sanctified, appointed as God’s memorial; and this memorial is “throughout all generations.” Ps. 135:13.
2. That the Sabbath is for all men is shown by the records of peoples, which, before apostatizing, acknowledged its binding obligation and kept it, as shown by ancient records, and the names they have retained for the days of the week.
3. That God gave the Sabbath to Israel was true; but he did not give it to them as a people to themselves; he gave it to them as he did all other truth, that they might give it to others. To Israel pertained “the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” Rom. 9:4. The gentile world worshiped idols, forbidden by the first two commands of the Decalogue; shall we therefore reject the law, saying it was for Israel? So with other precepts of that same holy law; God ever calls the seventh-day Sabbath his day, “the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,” but never the “Jewish Sabbath.” The latter is man’s name; which shall we choose? On the other hand, God repeatedly calls himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel; shall we therefore reject him for this?
4. But the new covenant is to Israel; all the promises are to Israel, the inheritance is to Israel, the holy and eternal city of the everlasting kingdom is the city of Israel; for after Israel are her gates named (Rev. 21:12); and Jesus declares that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). We have a Bible given through Jesus, spoken by Jesus, and a Saviour who was a Jew, of the tribe of Judah; and “unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” Gen. 49:10. Shall we therefore reject all these precious riches and blessings?
5. The fact of the case is that these Jews were the depositaries of God’s truth because they could best preserve it till Christ came. They rejected it, and God cast them off; but their rejection did not affect God’s truth. He simply placed the flaming torch and sacred treasure in other hands, devoted to his service, to bear the light and blessing to the world. But those who bear them are the Israel of God. There are no covenant blessings or promises to the gentiles only as they become Israelites—prevailers with God—by faith. But all may thus become, Jew or Greek, male or female, black or white; God is no respecter of persons. But faith, the faith of Jesus Christ, the faith of Israel, the faith which works by love, the love that keeps the commands of God,—the same faith and love are required of all; and all who have it are Israelites indeed, true Jews, of “the commonwealth of Israel,” and of “the household of God.” And God is one; his law is one; his Son is one; his salvation, his Sabbath, his mighty redeeming love and eternal inheritance, each and all are one and the same to all who will accept them. He who will not may remain a gentile, “having no hope, and without God in the world;” for there is no other hope, no other God.
No. 351. Close Communion.
IS THE S. D. A. Church a close communion church, that is, will they permit those of other denominations to partake of the Lord’s supper with them? E. H. J.
At the communion service Seventh-day Adventists often invite all who are keeping “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” to partake with them. We have known others to engage, and we believe they are never forbidden. No Christian should show by any act that he considers that any important truth of God is of no account. For this reason he might not be able conscientiously to commune with others. By this he does not judge his brother, but shows his loyalty to what he believes is truth.
No. 352. Caring for the Insane.
PLEASE give me your opinion in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES whether it is right for a Seventh-day Adventist to work in an insane asylum, where he will have to take care of the patients on the Sabbath days, as well as other days? O. N.
The insane, the sick, and the afflicted have to be cared for on Sabbath days as well as other days; and it is just as much the duty of a Seventh-day Adventist to do this as it is for any other person if the Lord wants him to do it. It is proper work to our mind, if he does it with a right motive, and for the Lord’s sake. Whether any person ought to do it or not is a question that lies between his soul and God.
