MAKING VOID THE LAW by F. M. Oliver

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 10, 1906

MAKING VOID THE LAW.

By F. M. Oliver

BY F. M. OLIVER.

THE way the popular churches are hurrying toward Rome is shown by the manner in which an evangelist here recently spoke in regard to God's law. He said that the law was no longer in force, and then added that the moral commandments of the Old Testament, excepting the fourth, were brought over and re-enacted in the New; that the fourth could not be found there. So it was really the only one that we were not to observe.

Also he said that the change from the seventh to the first day of the week could not be found in God's Word, and that the seventh day was the Sabbath, always had been, and always would be. But the first day was the Lord's day, which was kept in honor of Christ's resurrection. He said the Sabbath was made for the Jews; that the law that contains it was not given until proclaimed on Mount Sinai, and it was then added because of transgression. He further declared that when Jesus died upon the cross, the law, which was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, died also; for the law was not perfect, and could not convert any one.

Such teaching as this, altho without any scripture to prove his argument, is leading many a poor soul to destruction. He did not know, or avoided the statement of Christ, that “one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt. 5:17, 18. He also overlooked the statement of John that “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), and of Paul (Rom. 3:20), that “by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

So long as it is true that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, it is only clasping hands with the enemy to try to take away this great memorial institution and set up the first day of the week in its stead—a change for which it is admitted that there is no scriptural authority. Not once does Christ call the first day His holy day, or in any way refer to its sanctification. If the Sabbath was made for Jews only, then Christ made a mistake when He said, “The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27.

Christ, who was with the Father in the beginning, and who created all things, made the Sabbath, at the close of Creation, for man. And Christ Himself kept the law while upon earth. He came not to take away the law, but to magnify it and make it honorable (Isa. 42:21); and to show that, tho Adam failed, it was possible to live in harmony with the Father's will (Ps. 40:7, 8). “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Ps. 19:7), and to those who keep it perfectly will Christ reveal Himself, and they will become more and more like Him. Of such it is said that they shall “enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14. Surely “it is time for Thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void Thy law.” Ps. 119:126.

Pomeroy, Wash.