A Strange Idea of Christ's Work.
By Editor
A friend sends us a copy of the Pennsylvania Methodist containing an "open letter" "to Seventh-day Adventists," and requests us to reply to it. The open letter consists largely of a mass of unfounded assertions. For instance, in answer to the question, "Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath?" the "open letter" replies, "God's Word answers emphatically and definitely, Yes!" Now if the writer knows the Bible, he knows better than this; and the very fact that the Word does not answer "emphatically and definitely" is demonstrated by the half-dozen contradictory theories held by the advocates of Sunday observance. Here is another illustration of the writer's regard for God's law:— They [S. D. Adventists] are compelled to work on Sunday contrary to, or in violation of, the law of the land, in order to fulfil the law of God. "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work." Ex. 20: 9. If they would obey God rather than man they must work on Sunday and take the consequences. The law spent all its force on Christ our Substitute. . . . When Christ died, we died; when He rose, we rose with Him. Col. 3: 1-3. We have been discharged from the law, having died to that we were holden that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Rom. 6: 6; 2: 29. And thus this writer debases the law of God honored by Jesus Christ, our Example, who observed it, and died to bring us to its observance, below the law of man. And we can say with the apostle of old, "We ought to obey God rather than men." Christ freed us from the condemnation of the law and saved us to its obedience. If the law spent all its force upon Christ, how is it that there are any sinners now? Surely a dead law can not condemn men, and Paul must have been mistaken if this "open letter" is right. See Rom. 3: 20; 4: 15; 7: 7-9. The sinner at the best serves but a dead letter; the Christian serves in newness of spirit. But this writer makes forgiveness an indulgence to sin; and serving in newness of spirit, he makes disobedience to God! So did not Christ Jesus. He said, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart;" and His true disciple responds, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." The "open letter" would make Christ a "minister of sin;" but the Gospel makes Him a minister of righteousness. We have neither time nor space for more. See tract, "Under the Law or Under Grace," No. 163, Bible Students' Library, post-paid, by mail 2 cents.