MAN’S WORD VS. GOD’S WORD.
By Grant Adkins
It is certainly appalling to see how far people will go in theory and falsehood, and what reckless assertions they will be led to make, to evade the plainest teachings of the Bible. Recently the Rev. Mr. Long, D.D., of Fountain City, Tenn., in a labored effort to show his people that they need no longer obey the fourth commandment, after reading Gen. 2:2, 3, with Rev. 1:10, said: "The word 'Sabbath' is not the name of the day of the week." One can scarcely comprehend how a minister of the gospel, with any degree of biblical knowledge whatever, would dare make such an assertion before an intelligent audience when the word of God is so plain on that point. In turning to the record of creation, in Gen. 2:2, 3, we learn (1) that, after working six days, God rested on the seventh day, and (2) that he "blessed the seventh day," and (3) he "sanctified" the "seventh day." Why did he thus set apart a specific day?—Because "that in it he had rested from all his work." Jesus, in giving the law on Mt. Sinai, said of the then existing Sabbath day: "Remember the Sabbath day"—the day that God made at the close of creation week, most assuredly. Here Jesus calls the seventh day "the Sabbath." Language could not speak more plainly. But this is not the only place where the seventh day is called "the Sabbath." Mark 15:42 says: "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath." All know that the "preparation day" then was, as now, the sixth day of the week, especially to those who keep "the Sabbath according to the commandment." Luke 23:56. And, again, Mark 16:1, 2 shows conclusively that the "Sabbath" was the name given to the seventh day, because it (the Sabbath) "had passed" when the first day came on. And Acts 13:27, 42, with the above scripture, demonstrates beyond any possible doubt that, when the word "Sab8bath" was used, it was understood as referring to the seventh day of the week; and, more than that, the only day God ever did name at all was the seventh day, and he called it the "Sabbath," the Rev. J. D. Long, D.D., to the contrary notwithstanding. After quoting John 20:19, Mr. Long said that they had assembled there and were "discussing what the two on the road to Emmaus, and Peter, had seen," and "that it was nonsense to say they were there for fear of the Jews," and again he says: "To-day we are worshiping on the first day. God instituted the seventh day [a candid admission that he never instituted the first day], and it is a surprise to me that this question should come up for pulpit discussion in the nineteenth century." Yes, and it ought to be a "surprise" to any man who believes the word of God, for the Bible says just as positively as can be that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord." Ex. 20:10; Isa. 58:13. Mr. Long laid considerable stress on Rev. 1:10, and as that text in itself did not say which day was the "Lord’s day," Mr. Long found comfort and consolation in the writings of Ignatius and Pliny, those saintly(?), fathers of the church. He reported them as teaching that "Sunday was the Lord’s day," and then, with an air of satisfaction, asked, "What are we going to do with the teachings of such men?"—Why, do just as any honest man would do when their writings were contrary to God’s word,—reject them. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29. God says keep the seventh day holy. Ex. 20:8–11. "In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:9.