KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS by Jennie R. Richards

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 25, 1877

“KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.”

By Jennie R. Richards

Christ said to the young man who inquired of him what was necessary for him to do, that he might inherit eternal life, “Keep the commandments.” The question was a plain, pointed one, expressed in few words. The answer was equally so. It showed that obedience to the commandments of God is requisite to salvation. Whether the young man obeyed or not, the fact remained the same.

A gentleman, wishing to avoid the claims of the fourth commandment, and apparently thinking forever to settle the question of its obligation on us, said, “Just show me one text in all the New Testament that says the disciples ever kept the seventh day of the week—Saturday—after the resurrection.” Duty to obey God does not rest on so weak a foundation. God gives commandments; Christ says keep them; and it is evident to every unprejudiced mind that is familiar with the Scriptures, that the disciples did keep them. Had they not continued to keep “the Sabbath according to the commandment,” it certainly would have been mentioned somewhere by some New-Testament writer. As all are silent in regard to a change in the Sabbath law, either by precept or example, we may safely conclude that no such change took place. By searching the New Testament through, we do not find so much as one text, that says in so many words that the disciples did not steal. Are we at liberty, therefore, to commit theft?

“Keep the commandments,” Matt. 19: 17, is a saying of Christ. He also says, John 14: 23, 24, “If a man love me, he will keep my words;” “he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.” When will men cease caviling?

Jennie R. Richards.

Mattawan, Mich.