V
The Law of Christ
The fact that the law of Moses in its entirety, including even the Ten Commandments, has been taken out of the way does not mean that Christians are without restraint, guidance and law. God hath “spoken unto us by his son” (Heb. 1:1-2). This word that God hath spoken unto us through Christ is called “the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2) or the testament of Christ (Heb. 9:13-17). It is the law of love (Rom. 13:8-10). The law of Christ, which has been applicable to all the world since his death, contains several commandments that were never included in any other law given to man. For instance, the commandment to be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38); the commandment to lay by in store on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1, 2); and the commandment to eat the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 20:7).
The law of Moses forbade murder; the law of Christ forbids not only murder but even needless anger (Matt. 5:21-22). The law of Moses forbade adultery; the law of Christ forbids looking upon a woman to lust after her (Matt. 5:27, 28). The law of Moses forbade false swearing; the law of Christ forbids all swearing (Matt. 5:33-37). It was wrong for the Jews to work on Saturday, for the law of Moses forbade it (Deut. 5:12-15; Exod. 20:8-11). It is not wrong for a Christian to work on Saturday, for the law of Christ does not forbid it (Col. 2:16). The law of Moses did not require the Jews to engage in special worship on the first day of the week; the law of Christ does require Christians to do so (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 11:17-30; Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:24, 25). It is wrong for Christians to steal, kill, covet, etc., not because Moses said so, but because the law of Christ says so (Rom. 3:8-10).
There was a time to hear Moses but that time has passed. On the mountain of transfiguration, a cloud overshadowed Moses and the voice of God said concerning Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM” (Matt. 17:5). Christians should obey Christ, not Moses. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11, 12).
Friends, would you believe me if I were to tell you that the Seventh Day Adventists deny the existence of the word spoken through Christ? Well, just let me read it to you from the last section of the pamphlet under review.
“The abolition of the Ten Commandments would nullify the gospel of Christ, and render both grace and the atonement void. ‘Sin is not imputed when there is no law’ (Romans 5:13). Since ‘where no law is, there is no transgression’ (Romans 4:15), it follows that if the law [meaning the ten commandments] were abolished, there would be no transgression, and hence no need of a Saviour.”
I can’t believe the author meant to say that, but he said it. According to that, the “ten commandments” are the only commandments now in force. That quotation plainly says that if the “ten commandments” are not now in force there are no commandments to disobey, no chance to sin, and no need of a Saviour. The author has flatly denied every commandment in the gospel. According to him, Christ gave no commandments and it is folly to talk about obeying the gospel (See 2 Thess. 1:8). If the author was aware of what he was saying, he has deliberately denied the word of Christ. If he said it inadvertently, it simply illustrates the absurdities and inconsistencies into which one falls when he undertakes to teach error.
VI
Summary
Summarizing what was said last Lord’s day and what has been said today, I am earnestly requesting the Seventh Day Adventists to furnish the following Bible texts which are essential to the support of their theory:
1. The text that commanded any one to keep the sabbath during the period from Adam to Moses.
2. The text that commanded the Gentile nations to observe Saturday as a day of rest, even during the Mosaic dispensation.
3. The text in the new covenant, or will of Christ, that commands Christians to rest on Saturday.
4. The text which says that any one ever ate the Lord’s Supper on Saturday.
5. The text that even mentions either “moral law” or “ceremonial law.”