THIS MAY STARTLE YOU
George Burnside
The seventh day [Saturday] is the Sabbath of the Lord our God.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11
GOD MADE THE SABBATH WHEN HE MADE THE WORLD
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” “And 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 [set it apart for a holy use].” Genesis 1:1; 2:2, 3.
AND HE MADE IT FOR MAN
“The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27. Not for the Jews only, but for MAN. All men and women everywhere. The Jews did not even exist until 2,500 years after the Sabbath was made.
GOD ENJOINS SABBATH KEEPING IN HIS TEN COMMANDMENTS
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11
GOD, HIMSELF, WROTE THIS COMMANDMENT
“And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God.” Deuteronomy 9:10.
GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENT LAW CAN NEVER BE CHANGED
Blessed [is] the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3.
The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:7-8.
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born. Who should arise and declare [them] to their children. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. Psalm 78:1-7.
The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. Psalm 111:7, 8.
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Psalm 103:18-20.
He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac. And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant. Psalm 105:8-10.
It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. Psalm 119:126,150.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105.
Depart from me, you evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Psalm 119:115.
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. Psalm 119:165, 174.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isaiah 8:16.
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them. Isaiah 8:20.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, said 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, said the LORD. Isaiah 66:22-24.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19.
And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shall do no murder, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Matthew 19:17-19.
If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10.
And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, 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.
For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Romans 2:13.
You therefore which teaches another, teaches you not thyself? You that preaches a man should not steal, do you steal? Thou that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhors idols, do you commit sacrilege? You that make your boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonors God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Romans 2:2124
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31
Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Romans 5:13-15.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shall not covet. Romans 7:7.
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:12.
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:25.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:7.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness, Thou shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans 13:8-10.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 1 Corinthians 7:19.
Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. And did all eat the same spiritual meat. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. There remains therefore a rest [Greek - Sabbath] to the people of God. Hebrews 4:4, 9.
For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, said the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, said the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. Hebrews 8:8-10.
But they who look into the perfect law of liberty, and continue therein, they being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:25.
If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself, you do well. But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:8-12.
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But who so keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:3, 4.
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 John 3:22, 24.
Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:2, 3.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament. And there were lightning, and voices, and thundering, and an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:19.
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: Revelation 15:5.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17.
Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8.
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.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. Revelation 22:15.
CHRIST’S DEATH DID NOT ABOLISH OR CHANGE GOD’S LAW
Jesus died on “the day before the Sabbath” (Mark 15:37, 42), which is now called Good Friday. The women prepared spices and Ointments to anoint His body, then “rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56.) Only when “the Sabbath was past” Mark 16:1) did the women come `the first day of the week” (verse 2) to continue their sad work. They found “Jesus was risen early the first day of the week” (verse 9), commonly called Easter Sunday. Please note that the Sabbath “according to the commandment” was the day preceding Easter Sunday, which is the day we now call Saturday.
CHRIST INTENDED THAT HIS PEOPLE KEEP THE SABBATH
AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
Knowing full well that Jerusalem would be destroyed by Rome in AD 70, Jesus warned His followers of that time, saying, “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath ray.” Matthew 24:20. Jesus made it clear that He intended for the Sabbath to be kept even forty years after His resurrection. In fact, no intimation of a change (at any time, under any circumstances) has been given anywhere in the Scriptures.
THE APOSTLE PAUL KEPT THE SABBATH
And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Acts 16:13-14
“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, an three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” Acts 17:2.
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. Acts 18:4.
THE DISCIPLE JOHN SPOKE OF “THE LORD’S DAY”
(Revelation 1: 10) about sixty years after Christ’s death.
THE LORD’S DAY IS NOT SUNDAY BUT THE SABBATH
In Isaiah 58:13 God calls the Sabbath “my holy day,” and in Matthew 12:8 Christ is called “Lord even of the Sabbath day” (if Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath day, then the Sabbath is surely the Lord’s day). No verse of Scripture calls Sunday the Lord’s day! “Blessed is the man that keeps the Sabbath [Saturday] from polluting it. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, every one that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:2-7.
PAUL AND BARNABAS FOLLOWED THIS COMMAND
“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”
“And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” Acts 13:42, 44.
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” Acts 18:4.
IN FACT THE SABBATH WILL BE KEPT EVEN IN HEAVEN
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, said 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, said the Lord.” Isaiah 66:22, 23
THEN WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP SUNDAY AS A HOLY DAY?
Well Someone Tampered With God’s Holy Law!
God Didn’t.
“For I am the Lord, I change not.” Malachi 3:6.
Jesus Didn’t
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. Matthew 5:17.
Disciples Didn’t
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8.
But Someone Did!
(From Dr. Edward T. Hiscox, author of “The Baptist Manual.”) “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 transaction be found? Not in the New Testament, absolutely not. There is no Scriptural evidence of the change of the Sabbath institution from the seventh to the first day of the week.” Speech, New York Ministers’ Conference.
HARD TO BELIEVE, ISN’T IT?
BUT GOD FORETOLD IT!
“And he shall think to change the times and the law.” Daniel 7:25, American Standard Version.
AND HE WARNED AGAINST IT!
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments.” Deuteronomy 4:2.
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:6.
IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
Christ does mot accept tradition.
“Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:3, 9.
Breaking the law Is a Sin
“Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” James 2:10, 11.
Christians will gladly follow Jesus
“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21. (Jesus kept the Sabbath. Luke 4:16.)
“He that said he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12.
Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Matthew | 22.37 |
| 6.9 | 12.8 | 15.4 | 19.18 | 19.9 | 19.18 | 15.19 | 19.21 |
Mark | 8.33 |
| 3.28 | 2.28 | 10.19 | 10.19 | 7.21 | 7.22 | 7.22 | 7.22 |
Luke | 1.16 |
| 12.10 | 23:54-56 | 11.47 | 18.20 | 16.18 | 19.8 | 21.8 | 12.15 |
John | 17.3 | 4.24 | 19.3 | 9.14 | 15.10 | 8.44 | 8.4 | 2.16 | 8.44 | 2.16 |
Acts | 24.14 | 17.29 | 5.3 | 13:42-44 |
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| 15.29 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3-5 |
Romans | 1.20 | 11.4 | 2.24 |
| 1.30 | 13.9 | 2.22 | 13.9 | 13.9 | 13.9 |
1 Cor | 10.20 | 10:19-21 |
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| 5.1 |
| 5.1 | 6.10 | 11.31 | 10.6 |
2 Cor | 6.15 | 6.16 |
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| 11.2 | 11.8 | 11.3 |
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Galatians |
| 5.20 | 1.8 |
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| 5.21 |
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| 1.20 | 5.24 |
Ephesians | 4.6 | 5.5 | 4.30 |
| 6.2 |
| 5.3 | 4.28 | 4.14 | 5.3 |
Philippians | 3.3 |
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Colossians | 1.16-18 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| 3.20 |
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| 3.5 |
1 Thess | 1.9 | 1.9 |
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| 2.15 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 |
2.4 | 2.4 |
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| 2.11 |
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1 Timothy | 2.5 |
| 1.20 |
| 5.4 | 1.9 | 1.10 | 1.10 | 1.10 | 3.3 |
2 Timothy | 3.4 |
| 3.2 |
| 3.2 |
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| 3.3 | 3.2 |
Titus | 2.13 |
| 2.5 |
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| 2.5 |
| 1.2 | 3.3 |
Philemon | 1.3 |
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Hebrews | 3.12 |
| 12.16 | 4:4-9 | 12.16 | 11.4 | 13.4 |
| 6.18 | 13.5 |
James | 1.1 |
| 2.7 |
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| 2.10 | 2.11 | 5.4 | 3.14 | 1.14 |
1 Peter | 2.17 |
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| 1.14 | 4.15 |
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| 3.16 | 1.14 |
2 Peter | 3.18 |
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| 2.14 |
| 2.19 | 3.3 |
1 John | 1.3 | 5.21 |
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| 3.15 |
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| 1.6 | 2.16 |
2 John | 1.9 |
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| 1.7 |
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3 John |
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| 1.10 |
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Jude | 1.4 |
| 1.15 |
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| 1.19 |
| 1.10 | 1.11 |
Revelation | 15:3,4 | 9.20 | 17.3 | 14.6 |
| 9.21 | 9.21 | 9.21 | 21.8 | 14.12 |