4th Commandment Truths

1.  The very first thing recorded in the Bible is work done on Sunday, the 1^st day of the week.  This was done by the Creator           Himself.  If God worked on this day, how can it be wicked for us to work on Sunday?  God's 10 Commandment Law                 defines sin:  "For where there is no law, there is no transgression."  Romans 4:15

2.  God actually commands men to work upon the 1^st day of the week (Exodus 20:8-11).  Is it wrong to obey God?

3.  None of the Patriarchs ever kept it.

4.  None of the Holy Prophets ever kept it.

5.  By the express command of God, His Holy People used the 1^st day of the week as a common working day for at least                4,000 years.

6.  God Himself calls it a “working” day (Ezekiel 46:1).

7.  God did not “rest” upon it.

8.  God never “blessed” or “hallowed” it (Exodus 20:11)

9.  Christ did not “rest” upon it.

10.  Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and worked at His trade until He was 30 years old.  He kept the Sabbath and worked 6          days in the week, as all admit.  Hence He did many a hard day’s work on Sunday.

11.  The Apostles worked upon it during the same time.

12.  The Apostles never rested upon it.

13.  Christ Himself never “blessed” or “hallowed” it.

14.  It has never been “blessed” or “hallowed” by any divine authority.

15.  It has never been “sanctified.”

16.  No Biblical law was ever given to enforce the keeping of it; hence it is no transgression to work upon it.  “Where no law            exists, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15).

17.  The New Testament nowhere forbids work to be done on it.

18.  No penalty is provided for its violation.

19.  No blessing is promised for its observance.

20.  No regulation is given as to how it ought to be observed.

21.  It is never called the Christian Sabbath.

22.  It is never called the Sabbath day at all.

23.  It is never called the Lord’s day.

24.  It is never called even a rest day.

25.  No sacred title whatever is applied to it.  Then why should we call it Holy?

26.  It was simply called “first day of the week.” (Matthew 28:1)

27.  In His entire earthly ministry, Jesus never mentioned it in any way, never took its name upon His lips, so far as the                  record shows.

28.  The word “Sunday” never occurs in the Bible at all.

29.  Neither God, Christ, nor inspired men ever said one word in favor of Sunday as a Holy day.

30.  The 1^st day of the week is mentioned only 8 times in the entire New Testament: Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2 & Mark 16:9,            Luke 24:1, John 20:1 & John 20:19, Acts 20:7 & I Corinthians 16:2.  By contrast, the 7^th day Sabbath is mentioned 59            times in the New Testament alone!

31.  Six of these texts refer to the same 1^st day of the week.

32.  Paul directed the saints to look over their secular affairs on that day (1 Corinthians 16:2).

33.  In all of the New Testament we have a record of only one religious meeting held upon that day, and even this was a                night meeting - Saturday night - as the Biblical day begins at sundown (Acts 20:5-12).

34.  There is no intimation that the early Apostles ever held a meeting upon it before or after that.

35.  It was not their custom to meet on that day.  However there is Biblical evidence that it was customary for them to preach          (Acts 18:4 & Acts 13:42) and to convene and worship on the 7^th day of the week (Acts 16:13).

36.  There was no requirement to break bread on that day.

37.  We have an account on only one instance in which it was done (Acts 20:7).  But Acts 2:46 says they broke bread daily!              Notice also:  Acts 20:7 mentions nothing about wine, so they must not have held a full Communion Service.

38.  Jesus celebrated Communion Service on Thursday evening (Luke 22), never on Sunday.

39.  The Bible nowhere says that the first day of the week commemorates the resurrection of Christ.  Baptism commemorates          the burial and the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-5).

40.  Finally, the New Testament is totally silent with regard to any change of the Holy Sabbath Day or any sacredness for the           1^st day of the week.

    *Reprinted from a tract published by the Review and Herald Publishing Association about the year 1885.

-by Robert L. Rael

1.  Because it was written in stone by the finger of God, Exodus 31:18

2.  Because the Sabbath was blessed by God, Genesis 2:3

3.  Because all things were made by God, John 1:3

4.  Because the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, Mark 2:27

5.  Because God commanded that we “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” Exodus 20:8-10

6.  Because the Sabbath is the sign of God's creative power, Revelation 20:11

7.  Because the Sabbath existed before the laws were given on Mount Sinai, Exodus 16:4, 22-23, 27-29

8.  Because the name of the Lord endures forever, Psalm 135:13

9.  Because the work of creation will forever be remembered, Psalm 111:2-4

10.  Because the Sabbath is a sign between God and man, Ezekiel 20:12, 20

11.  Because the Sabbath is a sign – forever!, Exodus 31:17

12.  Because the redeemed are to remember the divine power of the Creator, Revelation 4:11

13.  Because in the new earth “all flesh” shall worship before the Lord on His Holy Sabbath day, Isaiah 66:22-23

14.  Because God first loved us, John 3:16

15.  Because Jesus gave the example of Sabbath observance, Luke 4:16

16.  Because by example, Jesus performed acts of mercy on that day, Matthew 12:12

17.  Because the day of preparation for the Holy Sabbath day would be the sixth day of the week, Luke 23:54-56

18.  Because the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath, Matthew 12:8

19.  Because it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, Luke 6:9

20.  Because Jesus performed miracles on the Sabbath, John 9:16

21.  Because Saturday is the day immediately preceding the first day of the week, so it is the seventh day,                                      Matthew 28:1 & Exodus 20:10

22.  Because the followers of Christ rested on Saturday after the crucifixion, Luke 23:56

23.  Because Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, Acts 13:14

24.  Because both Jews and Gentiles were gathered in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, Acts 13:42

25.  Because Paul and Silas - long after Christ’s death and resurrection - prayed and worshiped on that day, Acts 16:13

26.  Because St. John was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day Revelation 1:10

27.  Because we should “call the Sabbath a delight,” Isaiah 58:13

28.  Because Christ did not come to destroy the law, Matthew 5:17

29.  Because the law is eternal, Matthew 5:18

30.  Because we cannot break the commandments of God, Matthew 5:19

31.  Because we are the servants of God - so we must obey Him, Romans 6:16

32.  Because if we choose to keep another day holy, we do not agree with Christ but with men, Matthew 15:9

33.  Because scripture cannot be changed, Daniel 6:8

34.  Because God is the author of the law, Revelation 20:3

35.  Because the 4th commandment shows the author's authority in the field of law, Revelation 20:8-11

36.  Because those who keep the commandments and have the faith of Jesus will be saved, Revelation 14:12

37.  Because Satan is trying to destroy those who keep the commandments of God, Revelation 12:17

38.  Because the Sabbath was made, i.e., it was a part of God’s creation, Mark 2:27

39.  Because Christ kept the Sabbath, John 15:10

40.  Because we must walk as Christ walked, I John 2:6, 5:3 I Peter 2:21, John 13:15-17

41.  Because Jesus Christ never changes, Hebrews 13:8

42.  Because those who fail to “hollow the Sabbath day” shall be punished, Jeremiah 17:27

43.  Because God is angry with those who profane the Sabbath day, Nehemiah 13:17-18

44.  Because the law of God is true, Nehemiah 9:13-14

45.  Because God blesses the man who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, Isaiah 56:1-2, 6-7

46.  Because God sends a message regarding Sabbath observance, Isaiah 58:13-14

47.  Because God is very protective of His Holy Sabbath, Ezekiel 22:26

48.  Because God sends a stern message to worship the true Creator (the One who created the Sabbath day),                                  Revelation 14:7-10

49.  Because God presented reasons why His people should keep the Sabbath, Deuteronomy 5:15

50.  Because our faith in God does not annul the law, Romans 3:31

51.  Because those who love the law of God will have “great peace,” Psalm 119:165

52.  Because God speaks of a guarantee to those who choose to  keep His Commandments, Isaiah 48:18 -19

53.  Because a wise man understands God’s commandments, Psalms 111:10

54.  Because blessed is the man who “delights in the law of the Lord,” Psalms 1:1-2, Romans 7:22

55.  Because God's commandments are not burdensome, I John 5:3

56.  Because whoever does not obey the commandments of God is a “liar”, I John 2:4

57.  Because God blesses those who “walk in the law of the Lord,” Psalm 119:1

58.  Because the law is immutable, John 3:16, I Corinthians 15:3, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, James 2:8

59.  Because the law is “holy… just, and good,” Romans 7:12

60.  Because the keeping of God’s law is proof of man’s love for Jesus, John 14:15, 15:10, I John 2:5, 5:2

61.  Because if we stumble and offend in one point, we have become guilty of breaking all of God’s commandments,
       James 2:10-12

62.  Because the apostle Paul preached in the synagogue on Saturday, Acts 18:4

63.  Because the Sabbath is valid today, I John 2:7

64.  Because God does not change, Malachi 3:6

65.  Because the Sabbath is a sign - the sign of God with His people, Ezekiel 20:12

66.  Because the Sabbath was made by God, Genesis 2:2-3

Many 7^th Day Sabbath keepers are accused of being “legalists.”  Question: Is obeying the other nine Commandments of God also considered “legalistic?”  What makes one a legalist, obeying the laws of man or obeying the laws of God?

“The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.”                  Isaiah 42:21

I have many wonderful Catholic friends who are dedicated Christians.  I also have many sincere Christian friends who are Sunday-keeping Protestants.  I do not agree with either group about the Sabbath issue, but neither God, nor any carnal authority appointed me to pass judgment on any of them.

This document was written not with the intent to judge, offend or condemn.  But rather it was written with the sole and sincere purpose of extending the challenge to all who would, with the divine blessing of the Holy Spirit be diligent in seeking God's will for mankind, through the study of His Holy Scriptures.  May God bless you in the reading of His Word.

-Robert L. Rael

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