Cannot I Be Saved and Keep Sunday?
By H. F. Phelps
THIS question is often asked by those who have examined the Sabbath question, and, finding no evidence for the first day, the first thing they meet is the cross of keeping the seventh day. This cross is no easy one to lift; and, besides, it places us out of joint with the world two days each week. Worldly positions often have to be sacrificed. And there is also often a separation of those who before were near friends, they often uniting with the world in reproaches because of our faith. If we belong to a church, our names are soon cast out as evil simply for the crime of trying to keep the fourth commandment. These things and many more stand in the way, and the question very naturally arises, Cannot I be saved and still keep Sunday? I purpose briefly to notice a few Bible facts, and then ask all to decide this question in the light of eternity. It seems to me to depend very much upon whether or not God meant just what he said, and who would dare say that he did not mean what he said? Would God give us a law, and then not be particular whether we obeyed it or not? Or does he say what he means when he declares that “the soul that sinneth it shall die”? Has God, in so important a matter as the revelation of his will, dealt in non-essentials? or has he left these all out of his word? Does God give us light upon his word and then not care whether we receive this light or not? Has God ever required a certain sacrifice and accepted something else? The Bible gives us a few remarkable examples of this, from which we may draw a lesson. They are from the Old Testament, but none the less important, as Paul says, “These things were written for our learning and admonition.” See the example of Cain. God has ordained that without shedding of blood there should be no remission. And the offering of a lamb without spot shadowed forth the great sacrifice. And Abel “by faith offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead, yet speaketh.” If he speaks, let us be willing to hear him. Abel seemed to think that God meant what he said, and by faith in the arm of the living God, he obeyed. But Cain offered the fruit of the ground, and seemed by this act to confess his want of faith and fidelity in the word of God. Shall we dare to follow the example of Cain, and try to reason ourselves into a belief that God does not mean what he said when he requires the seventh day to be observed as a holy day? Let us look at the example of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. One instrument of service in the sanctuary was the golden altar before the second vail. By a divine miracle, fire was kept burning continually on this altar. The priests were to offer incense in their censers when they went in to minister in the sanctuary. God had told them that they never should offer incense with common fire, but should ever use fire from off this altar. The sons of Aaron became drunken, and were thus unable to detect the difference between sacred and common things; and in this state of intoxication they offered incense with common fire, and God was displeased with them, and smote them that they died. In this case, did God mean what he said? Did it make no difference with God what fire they used? They became intoxicated and disobeyed God. The punishment quickly followed. And in these days of apostasy, men have become drunken with the pleasures of the world, pride and popularity have filled the heart of the professed followers of Christ, and they stand willing to excuse themselves from obedience to God. They would fain try to make themselves believe they can be saved and break one of the plainest commandments in the word of God—try to make themselves believe God will ask a certain thing of us and then allow us to offer a service he has never required, allow us to do as we please about obeying. Did Christ die to save us in sin, or from sin? If to save us in sin, of course we can break the holy Sabbath and be saved; and if he will save one soul in willful disobedience, he will save all; universal salvation is sure, and it makes no difference whether we repent or not. God has blessed his people in the past. He has blessed us, doubtless he has blessed you, dear reader, while we were keeping the first day of the week, and breaking the Sabbath, not because we did so, but because of the sincerity of the heart, because we lived up to all the light we had. Shall we now refuse to walk in the light? God forbid; for if we walk not in the light, darkness will come upon us. Do we walk according to the sincerity of the heart, in conferring with flesh and blood, refusing to keep the day God has blessed and given us as a Sabbath? and keeping a day he has never blessed, never sanctified, and has never even left an intimation that it was to be a Sabbath? I think not. Let us not deceive ourselves. If we are deceived, it will be by a failure upon our part; first, by not receiving the truth. God is not mocked. God has spoken plainly upon this subject. He means what he says. And very soon he will show that the way of the transgressor is hard. Then why should we remain upon enchanted ground? Dear reader, wait no longer. Make haste and delay not to keep all God’s commandments. Now is the accepted time. To-morrow may be too late. It is not by-and-by, sometime, but now. Then be entreated to break away from the foe who is seeking to destroy you. Whom do you fear? Oh! it is man, an heir of death, a slave to sin, and soon he will be a subject of God’s wrath. But what says the prophet? Read Isa. 51. “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Why not? “For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool.” “I, even I, am he that comforteth you; who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, . . . and forgetest the Lord thy maker, . . . and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy?” Christ tells us whom to fear—not man—but Him that is able to take away this life and the life to come. Let men revile. Let them mock on. God will finally speak in behalf of his people and will be heard saying, “Thou art my people.” Then will be the time of our rejoicing. But their “laughter will be turned into mourning;” and, says God, “I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.” Let us be wise, and choose the better part now, while we have the opportunity.