Tell me, Lord, do you have a special day of rest for your followers or is every day alike?
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." Revelation 1:10
But which day is the Lord's Day? Which day are you Lord of?
"The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8
There are seven days in the week. Which day is the Sabbath day?
"The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8)
Which day, according to our reckoning, is the seventh day, Saturday or Sunday?
"And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James,...very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun...And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man...And he saith unto them, be not affrightened; Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified; He is risen." Mark 16:1-6. (Note everybody knows that Sunday was the resurrection day. The Sabbath was past when it dawned. Thus it is evident that the Sabbath is Saturday, the day before Sunday.)
But, Lord, didn't you abolish the law which contains the Sabbath Commandment?
"Do not suppose that I have come to do away with the law or the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17
Well, at least, didn't you change one of the Commandments so that today your followers may keep another day?
"I tell you, as long as heaven and earth endure, not one dotting of an i or crossing of a t will be dropped from the law until it is all observed." Matthew 5:18
But, Lord isn't Saturday a Jewish Day? Isn't the seventh day the Sabbath of the Jews?
"The Sabbath was made for man." Mark 2:27 (The Sabbath was made and given to man 2500 years before the existence of a Jew. See Genesis 2:1-3
Someone told me that after your crucifixion, your followers no longer kept the seventh-day Sabbath according to the Commandment. Is this true?
"And that day was the Pr3eparation day and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the Sepulchre, and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:54-56.
But didn't the Apostle Paul always meet with the early Christians on Sunday in honor of the Resurrection?
"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them our of the Scriptures." Acts 17:2
Perhaps he met with the Jews on the Sabbath and the Gentiles on Sunday. What about that?
"And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." Acts 18:4
What did Paul teach in regard to the Sabbath keeping?
"There therefore remaineth a keeping of the Sabbath (margin) to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His." Hebrews 4:9, 10
But what day did Paul mean when he spoke of resting as God did?
"For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works." Hebrews 4:4 (In the New Testament there are no less than 59 references to the Sabbath. The book of Acts records 84 Sabbaths on which the Apostle Paul and his associates held religious services. Yet there is not one word in the entire Bible authorizing Sunday keeping.)
Why do so many people keep Sunday instead of Saturday? If the Bible teaches Sabbath keeping, how and by whom was Sunday keeping started?
" And he (the 'little horn' power) shall speak great words against the Most High,...and think to change times and laws." Daniel 7:25
The Roman Catholic Church is the Little Horn of Daniel 7. Does it think it has the power to change the law of God?
"Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionist agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority." Stephen Keenan, a RC priest, Doctrinal Catechism, page 174.
When was the change made?
"We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because of the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea (364 A.D.) transferred the solemnity, from Saturday to Sunday." Peter Germann, The Converts' Catechism, page 50 (This catechism received the pope's blessing on Jan. 25, 1910.)
Do Protestant ministers agree with this?
CONGREGATIONALIST: "It is quite clear that however rigidly or devotedly we may spend Sunday, we are not keeping the Sabbath." Dr. R. W. Dale, The Ten Commandments, page 106.
METHODIST: "Sabbath in the Hebrew language signifies rest and is the seventh day of the week... and it must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day." Bucks Theological Dictionary.
BAPTIST: "There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week...Where can the record of such a transfer be found? Not in the New Testament--absolutely not...Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history...But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism,, and christened with the name of the sun god, when adopted and sanctioned by the Papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism." Dr. E. T. Hoscox, author of the Baptist Manuel.
What difference does it make which day I keep? A day is a day, isn't it?
"Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16
Then what shall I do, oey the Sabbath of God's Commandment or keep the Sunday of man?
"We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
Well, Lord what do you think of Sunday keeping?
"Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition...But in vain they do worship Me, teaching the doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:6, 9
But surely the millions of people who keep Sunday can't be wrong, can they?
"Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be wiich go in thereat: because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13,14. (Only a few obeyed God in the days of Noah, in the days of Lot, in the days of Christ. The majority were lost.)
But Dr. So-And-So is a very wise man: Why doesn't he and all the great preachers keep the Sabbath?
"For ye see your calling, brethern, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Corinthians 1:26, 27 (Note: The great religious teachers in Christ's day rejected the truth also. His followers were of common people.)
But I have accepted Jesus. He has accepted me and I have been keeping Sunday. Surely I would not be lost if I did not keep the Sabbath now, would I?
"The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." Acts 17:30
I know you Lord, you wouldn't condemn me for breaking the Sabbath, would you?
"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:4
But isn't it sufficient that I love the Lord and live by the law of love?
"If ye love Me, Keep My commandments." John 14:15
Does that mean all ten of them?
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10
Well, I think that if we try to follow Jesus, that is all that is necessary. Isn't that right?
"He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6
What was your custom regarding the Sabbath?
"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and, as was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read." Luke 4:16
But Lord that was over 1900 years ago. Wouldn't you keep some other day than Saturday if you should come to earth today?
"I am the Lord, I change not." Malachi 3:6. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Does my salvation depend upon my obedience to your Commandments?
"And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Hebrews 5:9.
Is it absolutely necessary to keep the Commandments to receive Eternal Life?
"If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17
But I still can't see why You insist on the seventh day, Lord. Isn't Sunday as good as Saturday?
"God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it." Genesis 2:3. "He hath blessed and I cannot reverse it." Numbers. 23:20. "For Thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever." 1 Chron. 17:27.
Well, it seems to me that if I keep one day in seven, regardless of which one, that ought to be good enough.
"There is a way that seemth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways death." Proverbs 16:25. "Spiritual things...are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:13, 14
But, Lord! Can't I do something else? Won't my prayers and my profession get me to heaven?
"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21
But I pray.
"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Proverbs 28:9.
But, Lord, look at the people who work miracles. Some heal the sick, others talk in tongues; yet they do not keep the Sabbath. What about them?
"Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: Depart from Me." Matthew 7:22,23.
Yes, I know the Sabbath is right; but my business would suffer if I closed on Sabbath. I might lose my job.
"For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
Well, for myself I wouldn't care; but what about my family? Wouldn't it be better for me to work on the Sabbath than to let my family starve?
"Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things; but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:32, 33. "I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalms 37:25
My friends will laugh at me and ridicule me.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,...and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake, rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven." Matthew 5:11, 12. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." John 15:18
But suppose my own family does not agree with me. Should I cause a division in my home?
"He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: And he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worth of Me: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me is not worth of Me." Matthew 10:37, 38. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:33
I am afraid I won't be able to withstand all these trials. I am too weak.
"My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness....When I am weak, I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.: Philippians4:13
Then, Lord, what is the reward for being faithful to you nd the Commandments?
"There is no man that hat left house, or parents, or brethern, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting." Luke 18:29, 30. "Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14
Lord, I'm looking forward to a home in the earth made new, will we keep the Sabbath there, too?
"For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain; and it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 66:22, 23
Then, Lord, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. With your help, I will keep the Sabbath.
"Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21
WHICH MARK WILL YOU RECEIVE?
"The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday."....Catholic Mirror, September, 1893
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters."...C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons.
"The observance of Sunday by the Prostestants is an homage they pay in spite of themselves to the authority of the Catholic Church." ...Plain Talk for Protestants, page 213.
"And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." Ezekiel 20:20
AN OFFER
" I have repeatedly offered $1000 to anyone who can prove to me from teh Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible."..Priest T. Enright, Css R., Kansas City, Mo
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." Revelation 1:10
But which day is the Lord's Day? Which day are you Lord of?
"The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8
There are seven days in the week. Which day is the Sabbath day?
"The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8)
Which day, according to our reckoning, is the seventh day, Saturday or Sunday?
"And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James,...very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun...And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man...And he saith unto them, be not affrightened; Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified; He is risen." Mark 16:1-6. (Note everybody knows that Sunday was the resurrection day. The Sabbath was past when it dawned. Thus it is evident that the Sabbath is Saturday, the day before Sunday.)
But, Lord, didn't you abolish the law which contains the Sabbath Commandment?
"Do not suppose that I have come to do away with the law or the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17
Well, at least, didn't you change one of the Commandments so that today your followers may keep another day?
"I tell you, as long as heaven and earth endure, not one dotting of an i or crossing of a t will be dropped from the law until it is all observed." Matthew 5:18
But, Lord isn't Saturday a Jewish Day? Isn't the seventh day the Sabbath of the Jews?
"The Sabbath was made for man." Mark 2:27 (The Sabbath was made and given to man 2500 years before the existence of a Jew. See Genesis 2:1-3
Someone told me that after your crucifixion, your followers no longer kept the seventh-day Sabbath according to the Commandment. Is this true?
"And that day was the Pr3eparation day and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the Sepulchre, and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:54-56.
But didn't the Apostle Paul always meet with the early Christians on Sunday in honor of the Resurrection?
"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them our of the Scriptures." Acts 17:2
Perhaps he met with the Jews on the Sabbath and the Gentiles on Sunday. What about that?
"And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." Acts 18:4
What did Paul teach in regard to the Sabbath keeping?
"There therefore remaineth a keeping of the Sabbath (margin) to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His." Hebrews 4:9, 10
But what day did Paul mean when he spoke of resting as God did?
"For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works." Hebrews 4:4 (In the New Testament there are no less than 59 references to the Sabbath. The book of Acts records 84 Sabbaths on which the Apostle Paul and his associates held religious services. Yet there is not one word in the entire Bible authorizing Sunday keeping.)
Why do so many people keep Sunday instead of Saturday? If the Bible teaches Sabbath keeping, how and by whom was Sunday keeping started?
" And he (the 'little horn' power) shall speak great words against the Most High,...and think to change times and laws." Daniel 7:25
The Roman Catholic Church is the Little Horn of Daniel 7. Does it think it has the power to change the law of God?
"Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionist agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority." Stephen Keenan, a RC priest, Doctrinal Catechism, page 174.
When was the change made?
"We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because of the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea (364 A.D.) transferred the solemnity, from Saturday to Sunday." Peter Germann, The Converts' Catechism, page 50 (This catechism received the pope's blessing on Jan. 25, 1910.)
Do Protestant ministers agree with this?
CONGREGATIONALIST: "It is quite clear that however rigidly or devotedly we may spend Sunday, we are not keeping the Sabbath." Dr. R. W. Dale, The Ten Commandments, page 106.
METHODIST: "Sabbath in the Hebrew language signifies rest and is the seventh day of the week... and it must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day." Bucks Theological Dictionary.
BAPTIST: "There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week...Where can the record of such a transfer be found? Not in the New Testament--absolutely not...Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history...But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism,, and christened with the name of the sun god, when adopted and sanctioned by the Papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism." Dr. E. T. Hoscox, author of the Baptist Manuel.
What difference does it make which day I keep? A day is a day, isn't it?
"Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16
Then what shall I do, oey the Sabbath of God's Commandment or keep the Sunday of man?
"We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
Well, Lord what do you think of Sunday keeping?
"Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition...But in vain they do worship Me, teaching the doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:6, 9
But surely the millions of people who keep Sunday can't be wrong, can they?
"Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be wiich go in thereat: because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13,14. (Only a few obeyed God in the days of Noah, in the days of Lot, in the days of Christ. The majority were lost.)
But Dr. So-And-So is a very wise man: Why doesn't he and all the great preachers keep the Sabbath?
"For ye see your calling, brethern, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Corinthians 1:26, 27 (Note: The great religious teachers in Christ's day rejected the truth also. His followers were of common people.)
But I have accepted Jesus. He has accepted me and I have been keeping Sunday. Surely I would not be lost if I did not keep the Sabbath now, would I?
"The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." Acts 17:30
I know you Lord, you wouldn't condemn me for breaking the Sabbath, would you?
"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:4
But isn't it sufficient that I love the Lord and live by the law of love?
"If ye love Me, Keep My commandments." John 14:15
Does that mean all ten of them?
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10
Well, I think that if we try to follow Jesus, that is all that is necessary. Isn't that right?
"He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6
What was your custom regarding the Sabbath?
"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and, as was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read." Luke 4:16
But Lord that was over 1900 years ago. Wouldn't you keep some other day than Saturday if you should come to earth today?
"I am the Lord, I change not." Malachi 3:6. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Does my salvation depend upon my obedience to your Commandments?
"And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Hebrews 5:9.
Is it absolutely necessary to keep the Commandments to receive Eternal Life?
"If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17
But I still can't see why You insist on the seventh day, Lord. Isn't Sunday as good as Saturday?
"God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it." Genesis 2:3. "He hath blessed and I cannot reverse it." Numbers. 23:20. "For Thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever." 1 Chron. 17:27.
Well, it seems to me that if I keep one day in seven, regardless of which one, that ought to be good enough.
"There is a way that seemth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways death." Proverbs 16:25. "Spiritual things...are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:13, 14
But, Lord! Can't I do something else? Won't my prayers and my profession get me to heaven?
"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21
But I pray.
"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Proverbs 28:9.
But, Lord, look at the people who work miracles. Some heal the sick, others talk in tongues; yet they do not keep the Sabbath. What about them?
"Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: Depart from Me." Matthew 7:22,23.
Yes, I know the Sabbath is right; but my business would suffer if I closed on Sabbath. I might lose my job.
"For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
Well, for myself I wouldn't care; but what about my family? Wouldn't it be better for me to work on the Sabbath than to let my family starve?
"Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things; but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:32, 33. "I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalms 37:25
My friends will laugh at me and ridicule me.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,...and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake, rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven." Matthew 5:11, 12. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." John 15:18
But suppose my own family does not agree with me. Should I cause a division in my home?
"He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: And he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worth of Me: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me is not worth of Me." Matthew 10:37, 38. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:33
I am afraid I won't be able to withstand all these trials. I am too weak.
"My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness....When I am weak, I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.: Philippians4:13
Then, Lord, what is the reward for being faithful to you nd the Commandments?
"There is no man that hat left house, or parents, or brethern, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting." Luke 18:29, 30. "Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14
Lord, I'm looking forward to a home in the earth made new, will we keep the Sabbath there, too?
"For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain; and it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 66:22, 23
Then, Lord, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. With your help, I will keep the Sabbath.
"Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21
WHICH MARK WILL YOU RECEIVE?
"The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday."....Catholic Mirror, September, 1893
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters."...C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons.
"The observance of Sunday by the Prostestants is an homage they pay in spite of themselves to the authority of the Catholic Church." ...Plain Talk for Protestants, page 213.
"And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." Ezekiel 20:20
AN OFFER
" I have repeatedly offered $1000 to anyone who can prove to me from teh Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible."..Priest T. Enright, Css R., Kansas City, Mo
