Ten Reasons—A Contrast
By Arthur L. Manous
It is interesting to note, in connection with the seventh day of creation week, the Sabbath of our God, that there are at least five inspired reasons given, which may be taken as showing, in part, why we should observe the Lord's Sabbath. It is also of interest to note that there have been given and tabulated five man-made reasons for observing the first day of the week as the Sabbath. In these, the advocates of Sunday sacredness have doubtless "produced" their "strong reasons," if they complied with Isa. 41: 21. Now let us note the contrast in these ten reasons as they stand side by side. FIVE INSPIRED REASONS FOR OBSERVING THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE WEEK - "On the seventh day God ended His work which He had made."
- "And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made."
- "And God blessed the seventh day."
- "And sanctified it."
- "And hallowed it." He thus made it "honorable," "because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." Gen. 2: 2, 3; Ex. 20: 8-11; Isa. 58: 13, 14.
FIVE MAN-MADE REASONS FOR OBSERVING THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK "1. Christ rose from the dead on this day.
"2. He appeared twice in succession on this day.
"3. He gave special evidence of His resurrection on this day.
"4. He gave the earnest of the Spirit on this day.
"5. He sent the full effusion of the Holy Ghost to His church [on this day]."—Prof. Henry Lummis, after Bishop Wordsworth, in "Sabbath Essays," page 148, Boston, 1879. "What is the chaff ["straw," R. V.] to the wheat? saith the Lord." Jer. 23: 28.