Apostolic Example by H.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 20, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 21.

Apostolic Example.

By H.

THE statement is often made that the Sabbath was changed by the early apostles. There is not a text in all their writings that bears out the argument, if argument it may be called, since no proof is given of the statement other than the word of men. It would be strange, indeed, if in all of Luther's writings there should be not one word concerning justification by faith, one of his most prominent doctrines. What would be thought of the historian who told the story of the United States and neglected to mention Independence Day? Yet here is a record of the acts of the apostles, among them Paul, "the greatest apostle," and never a word from them concerning the change of the Sabbath. Passing strange, is it not?

Let us notice some events in the experience of Paul, with his own words on the subject: In Acts 24 is the record of one time when Paul was arrested and brought before the civil authorities at the instigation of the Jews. What was their charge against him? Read verses 2 to 9. "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews thruout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; who moreover assayed to profane the temple." Evidently they charged him with the worst things they could imagine, but never a word as to their laws; and the charges of insurrection were so evidently unfounded that the Roman authorities would not convict Paul on the evidence.

Note Paul's defense before the governor: "I cheerfully make my defense; seeing that thou canst take knowledge that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem; and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogs, nor in the city. Neither can they prove to thee the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets." Again, when he was brought before Festus, he declared: "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all." Acts 25:8.

In telling of this experience to the brethren in Rome, whither he had been taken for trial, Paul declared: "I, brethren, tho I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans."

Now one of the "customs of our fathers" to which all Jews held most tenaciously was the keeping of the Sabbath. Had Paul, or any other apostle, so much as mentioned to the Jews that in accepting Christ they must keep the first day of the week in the place of the Sabbath, there would have been a storm of opposition. Without question, an uproar would have resulted, and the charge before the civil authorities would have included the attempt to change the law. Further, Paul could not have truthfully said, "I have done nothing

against the people, or the customs of our fathers." Such a statement would have brought instant and decided denial from the zealous Jews.

One word more from Paul, his appeal to the believers in Rome: "If thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, . . . being instructed out of the law, . . . having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth; . . . thou who gloriest in the law, thru thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?" Rom. 2:17-23. Here is a letter written years and years after the resurrection of Christ, and the writer still stands by the law, admitting no change or revocation, but calling for obedience to the letter and the spirit; urging faith in Jesus, but ever insisting on the binding claims of the law;—"do we then make the law of none effect thru faith? God forbid; nay, we establish the law." Rom. 3:31.

Paul is not alone in pointing to the law. John, in his epistle to the churches, speaks of the duty of the followers of Christ to keep the commandments: "Hereby we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments;" "whoso keepeth His word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected;" "he that doeth the will of God abideth forever;" "he that keepeth His commandments abideth in Him, and He in him;" "this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments;" "this is love, that we should walk after His commandments."

Possibly the most conclusive statement from John is in his first epistle, verse 6 of chapter 2: "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked." Now there is no question whatever as to how Jesus walked. His own words tell us: "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." "I am come down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." John 5:30; 6:38.

The will of the Father is expressed in His law. An inspired prayer of the Levites, recorded in Nehemiah 9, contains this statement concerning that law: "Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments." Surely "true laws" then would be true laws for all time, for God's plan of salvation and government has never changed, for "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever."

Two points determine the direction of a straight line. To the Corinthian brethren Paul wrote, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ." The inspired record of Christ's attitude to the law is given by the psalmist, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Ps. 40:8. That law emanated from God Himself, who spoke it to His people and wrote it with His own finger on the enduring stone. Thru all the ages of the world's history, men have obeyed that law in its entirety; men have kept God's Sabbath in every age. But above all others, Jesus the Son of God kept that law and honored the Sabbath. He established the direction of that law for succeeding ages, and the apostles agreed with Him in all things. As was said of old of the glory of God and His handiwork,

"Their line is gone out thru all the earth, And their words to the end of the world." "The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever; The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is Thy servant warned; In keeping them there is great reward." Ps. 19:4, 7-11.