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NOT ADJUSTABLE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 5, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 23.

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NOT ADJUSTABLE.

By A. Smith

The obligation of the fourth commandment of the decalogue is believed by many, in consideration of the supposed greater magnitude of the work of redemption as compared with that of creation, to have been transferred to the first day of the week,—on which Christ is said to have finished the work of redemption by rising from the dead,—ever after to be observed in its septenary order as a memorial of that event. But to this proposition objections of considerable weight are apparent:
1. The Sabbath according to the command must be preceded by six days of labor, which was not true of the resurrection day, the one preceding it being the seventh in septenary order from the creation, and termed by the Holy Spirit “the Sabbath according to the commandment.” And since no provision has been made in the Scriptures for two Sabbaths in juxtaposition and opposed in their fundamental principles, we conclude that such an anomaly can only be located where it is placed by the well-known couplet,—
“Next day after never, When two Sabbaths meet together.”
2. But if it be urged that the law was abrogated at the cross, and that the day precedingthat of the resurrection was not therefore the Sabbath, then a period of one and one-eighth days intervened between the crucifixion and the so-called Christian Sabbath, for which no enactment of the Lawgiver has made any provision, and we cannot therefore exercise faith in the supposed change of the Sabbath law. If it could be proved that Christ wrought in the work of redemption just six days prior to that of his resurrection, and that his resurrection constituted no part of that work, it would relieve the question of this superabundant time, and overlap ante-crucifixion time four and seven-eighths days, thus making the amendment or re-enactment of the law antedate its supposed repeal. But if the work of redemption was not limited to the days in question, then no memorial of that event can rest upon any septenary period; and not otherwise limited, it could be as well celebrated on any day of the week, or month, or year.
3. There are three reasons adduced in the commandment for the observance of the Sabbath, none of which can ever be true of the first day of the week.
a. God labored six and only six days next preceding the Sabbath or seventh day. This is not true of the work of redemption, which extends from the fall of man when the promised Seed of the woman purchased for Adam a reprieve and inspired the assurance of his final restoration to all that he had lost by sin, to the time when every creature in Heaven, and earth, and sea, will ascribe glory to God and the Lamb.
b. He rested the seventh day, which Christ did not do on the first day, as he rose from the dead (a part of redemption’s work) on that day, and journeyed into the country with two of his disciples. Strange proceeding for one who would institute a new Sabbath, superior in its sacred associations to the old time-honored and God-instituted day of rest.
c. He hallowed it, or set it apart for holy uses. Not a word of proof that God or Christ ever so hallowed the first day can be adduced from the Scriptures.
For a great length of time, Christians have unwittingly observed as the Sabbath a day that had its origin in heathen mythology, was engrafted into the dogmas of papal faith, and transmitted to Protestants, holding in solution, as it were, the corruptions of both systems. Should Christians who accept the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice any longer respect an institution of such questionable authority? Should they not rather accept those solemn and appropriate memorials which Christ and his honored apostles instituted as mementoes of the Redeemer’s death, burial, and resurrection? “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:19, 20. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Cor. 11:26. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Eph. 1:7. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Rom. 6:4.
How solemn, forcible, and appropriate are these memorials of the grandest scenes in the work of redemption! Instituted by Christ, and honored by his apostles, they compel the respect of every child of God; but the so-called Christian Sabbath has not the sanction of so great authority.
Reader, you who accept the Bible as of divine authority, if you attempt to mutilate God’s law, and adjust it in its application to the sanctification of a heathen festival day, how can you answer him in the Judgment, or what plea can you make in extenuation of your disregard of his own appointed Sabbath? Weigh the subject in the light of eternity, and let no mercenary or selfish motives prompt you in making a decision.
A. SMITH.