Nichols, James

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Abilene Christian UniversityDigital Commons @ ACUHerald of Truth Audio Herald of Truth Records1-18-1953Churches of Christ Salute You with a Herald ofTruth: The Sabbath DayJames NicholsFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.acu.edu/hot_audioThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Herald of Truth Records at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusionin Herald of Truth Audio by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. For more information, please contact dc@acu.edu.Recommended CitationNichols, James, "Churches of Christ Salute You with a Herald of Truth: The Sabbath Day" (1953). Herald of Truth Audio. Paper 234.http://digitalcommons.acu.edu/hot_audio/234~\\11'/'/~ ---- -- --~ ~ @hurches of C9hrist-~Salute You with a--=== erald of -._____....- ruth James W. Nichols January 18, 1953 In the first chapter and ten th ver se of the book of Revela-tion, J chn the apostle declar es to us, "I was in thfl spirit on the Lord's day." There has been a great deal of specula tion as to what the Lord's day was, but in gener al the conflicting ideas can be narrowed down to three concepts-first, that this was Saturday, commonly known as the sabbath day; second, that it was Sunday, and that the Sabba th day had been changed from Saturday to Sunday to become th e Lord's day; and third, that this was the first day of the week, and that the sabbath day had been abolished. It is our purpose to examine these three ideas in the light of the word of God to see what "Should be our day of worship, and to see what title can be applied to it. The first idea that we mentioned is that the day of worship is Saturday, or more explicitly, from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night. Those who hold to this idea r efuse to recognize the first day of the week as the Lord's day, or as the day upon which we should worship. They gain their point of view from the fact that the children of Israel worshipped upon the sabbath day, which was Saturday. They contend that this law has never been changed, that God from the beginning gave a moral law commanding to keep the seventh day, and that any moral law is applicable throughout all time. Now, with all due respect for those holding this idea, we believe that the people who make this contention are in error in keeping the sabbath day, and that they do not keep it in the way that the children of Israel did. We notice tha t no command-ment was ever given to r emember the sabba th day until the giving of the law of Moses. In Exodus 20 : 8 we read, "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." This is the first time that anyone was ever told to r emember the sabbath day. But to whom was this law given? It was given only to the children of Israel. In fact, the entire law of Moses was given to the children of Israel only, and never to a Gentile. For us to say that we must remember the seventh day because Moses commanded it is very much like saying that w e in the United States should adher e to a decree of the king of England .. We do not do so because we are not under his jurisdiction. The law of Moses, which included the command, "Remember the Page 2 THE SABBATH DAY Page 3 sabbath day to keep it holy" was given to the Hebrews and not to Christians. In fact, as we turn to the New Testament we soon find that this law in its entirety has been done away. In Hebrews 10 : 1 we read, "For the law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things, they can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh. In verse 9 we read: "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." But perhaps you wonder if it were all or a part of the law of Moses that was removed. Those who contend that we should keep the seventh day say that only the ceremonial part of the law has been done away, but that the moral part has been retained. To answer this we turn to the seventh chapter of Romans. In verse -1, Paul says, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye were made dead to the law through the body of Christ." Tn verse 6 he says, "But now we have been discharged from the law." What law i's he speaking about? In the next verse he concludes, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law; for 1 had not known coveting except the law had said, thou shalt not covet." Now, let's notice his reasoning. He says we are discharged from the law. What law? The law that said, "Thou shalt not covet". And where do we find the expression "Thou shalt not covet"? In the ten commandments in the very same place where we / ind the command, "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." So when Paul says we are discharged from the law, he is including the statement, Remember the sabbath day. But in order that we may make it a little more conclusive that we are not to keep the seventh day, I would have you notice the 2nd chapter of Colossians. In verse 14 Paul is speak-ing of the death of Christ on the cross, and he says, "Having ·t · ~,....,-.___~ blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us , :which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross." What did Christ do? He nailed the law of Moses to the cross. Then he concludes in verse 16, "Let no . ,_. . man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a ~;_,·;~·- feast day or a moon or a sabbath day: which are a shadow of . ~·l'·:-··'{C~r' ,.the things to come ; but the body is Christ's ." These things · · · ' which were a part of the law of Moses, including the sabbath day, are no longer to be observed, because the old law of Moses had been nailed to the cross. And to clinch th e argument, P aul YOU MAY HEAR THE HERALD OF TRUTH OVER THESE STATIONS Alabama, Anniston WHIU. H60 l:OOp.m. New Orleana WDSU 1180 1:00 p.m: II Phlla~elphla WJ'U, &80 1 :00»·•· Auburn WAUD 12SG l :OOp.m. r Shrs veport XRMD 1~40 1 :00 p .m. P lttaburc WCA.Jil 1160 I:Oop.a. Birmingham WSGN. 610 8:00&-m . Maine, Bangor WABI Ill) 1 :00 p.m. , I Wilkes-Bart<; WILK 980 &: 00 p.m. n orenee W JOI 13~0 9:30a.M. I Por'Jand WPOR 1. 6il i:OOa.m. jl 1'1. laland, P roT1dent:9 WP\l'B H J (t l : OO p.m. Glldoden W GAD 1Sii0 1 : 00 I).Jil. MRryland, Baltimore = :noo 1:00 p.m. ,! G. Carolb a, Columbia. W COl:S 1400 1:00 p.m. Grecnvilh~ WGYV C:O•Jp.m. Cumberland l Z30 8:00 a.m. II Florence WJMX 970 10: 30 a .m, Huntevlle WHBS Hsu l :Oe p.m . ,, ... .. o .. rdner WHOB 1490 1 : 00p.m. O"angeburg WRNO 1450 7:00 a.m. Ma rlon WJAM llllO 9 :30a.m. Lawrence WLAW 68~ 1 : V6 lMll. .I ~. Oak~ta, Ahrd• en KSDN 110 lG:IOLIII, Mob!!" WABB HSC 6 ~ ~0 &.m.. Springfield WSPR 1270 2:00p.m. 'I Huron KIJ V 13~0 9 :00 a.m. Montgomer:r WAPX 1609 1 :00 p.m. Worcester 'WAAH 1440 2 :00 p.m. Tenn., Chattenoocs. WDI!J' 1170 1 :00p.m. Selma W:>WC 1340 1 :80p.m. Ml:hiQen, Ba ttle Creo\: WELL u co l:OOp.m. !, .lf.d<,.On ' W'i.'JB u=c 1:00 p.m. T'~scaloose WJRD 1150 9: 00.p.m. Bay City WBCM 1440 1 :00p.m. Johnaon Clt7 wnn:, 91G 10 :10p.m. Arizona, Phoenix KOY 550 7:00 a .m. I D~troli WXYZ 1270 1 :00 p.m. j, K &czvlll" WBIR 1140 1 :80 p.m. Tucson KCN!. 586 8:00 p.m. · Flin t WFD!" 3!(i 10 :00 p.m. II Memphis W MPS 380 8:80p.m. Arkansas , Eldorado KDMS 1296 1 :00 p.m. L&:lslng wu.s 1820 1 :09 Morrie town W CP.X 1453 ~heck at&. F t.. Smith KF SA 95& l : OO p .m. 14!;0 :rla shvllle . WSIX ~so t : OO p.m. I, Hot Sprlnga KTHS 1090 1 : 0~ p.m. II 1150 p.m. II T8Xa<, .Ablleno P.:RBC l470 l:OOp.m. Little Rock KGHI -1250 1 :00 p .m. %:00 p.m. Amar111o KFD.Io. U40 1:00p.m. Spritl(:dale KBRS ~:48 8:00 p.m. 7 : ~0am. AuaUn KNOW 1430 J :OOp.m. I Calif., B:;kerofleld KPMC 1630 lO:GO a .m. J: OO p.m. Beaumont KFDllf 5ao 1 :00 p.~n. I· Blythe KYOR 1450 3:30p.m . 8:00a.m. I! Big Spl'ln: KBST 1490 1 :00 p.m. ·I I Brawley K.IW P 1300 : : SO p.m. 1:00p.m. Browutleld KTFY 1300 4 :30 p.m. I E ureka KIE M 1480 8:00 a ,m. I 8 :00;;>.m. Brow:twccd KBWD 1380 6:30p.m, Fresno KARM 1430 3:30 p .m. i:OO p.m. Co<puo Chr1at! KlllY!I u co 9 :00 a .!IL I Jndlo KR E O 1400 3 :30 p.m. J : OO !,l.m. II E l Pa ao KEPO 690 8:00p.m. Loa Angeles KECA 7&0 8:30p.m. l:OG p.m. 'I F t . Worth WBAP 670 l :OOp.m. Modesto KTRB 860 3:00p.m. Laur3I l : OOp.m. I! Graham KSWA 1810 4 :10p.m. San Francisco KGO 810 a:::w, .m. McComb 9 :30a.m. Houato!l KXYZ iiJO' 8:00a.m. Sa q Lula Obispo KATY 1340 3 :30 p .m. MJ .. ourl, Kanoao Cit)' 11:10 p.m. Longview KFRO 1870 1:00'p.m . C~lorado, Craig KRAI 1256 6:30p.m. Rolla 8 :46a.m. Lubbock KJ'YO 1840 4:00 p .m. Denver KVOD 830 3 :00 p .m. St. L<Jula 2:00p.m. Midland KCRe 560 1:10 p.m. Conn., Bridgeport W NAB 1460 2 :00p.m. Spr!ncfleld 1 :00 p.m. Nacogdoches KOSF , 1230 1 :00 !).II\, Ha rttord WTHT 1230 %:30 p.m. Montana, Butte 1 :16o..m. Paris KPL'r 1490 4 :00p.m. De laware, Wilmington WILM 1450 2 :00p.m. Great Falls 7 :80 a .m . San Ang8lo KGKL 940 1 : 00 p.m. Florida, Galneovllle WGGG 1Z30 1 :00 p.m. Nebraaka; Lincoln 10 :80 a .m. San Antonio KMAC 480 9:00 p.m. Jacksonville WPDQ 800 8:30 .a .m. N. Platt 9:00a.m. Texarkana KCMC 1%80 1:00 p.m. Leesburg WLBE 790 checksta. Omaha 5:10p.m. Wichlte Falla KFDX 990 a:oo p.m. Miami WQAM 660 1: 00p.m . Sidney 9:30a.m. Utah, Provo KCSU 1490 1 :00 p.m. Panama City WPCF 1f00 1 :00 p.m. N. Hamp.. Claremont l ;OOp.m. Salt Lake City KUTA 670 7:10a.m. P ensacola WEAR 1:230 11 :00 p.m. Lebanon 1 :00p.m. Vermont, Brattleboro W TSA 1460 1 :00 p.m. Tallahassee WTNT H50 6:00p.m . Manchester 8:00p.m. Burlington WJOY 1280 1:00p.m. Tampa , St. Pete WSUN 620 1 :00p.m. N. Mexico. 1 :00 p.m. Montpeller-Ba rre WSKI lJCO 1:00p.m. Georgia, Atlanta WGST 920 1:00 p.m. Ca rlsbad check ate. VIrginia, Charlottesville W INA 1280 9 :16a.m. Auguste • WGAC 680 3:00p.m. Clovla 1 :00 p.m. Fredericksburg WJ'VA 1280 check at&. Brunswick W GIG 1440 1:00p.m t Loa AlamOJ I : OO p.m. Marlon WMEV 1010 2 :00p.m. Cairo W GRA 1300 3:00p.m. Santa J'e 1:00 p.m. Nor!olk WGH 1310 6:30p.m. Columbus WGBA 1460 7:30 a .m. . J:OOp:m. Richmond WRNL 910 1 :30 p .m . Daw son WDW D 990 2:00p.m. 1• •80p.m. Waanington, Aberdeen • KBKW 1450 10 :30 p.m. Macon WNEX 1400 1 :00p.m. l :"'Op.m. Omak KOMW 680 9:15 a .m. Rome WLAQ 870 1:00p.m . 3:00p.m. Pasco KPKW 1340 3 :30 p.m. Savannab WDAR 1400 1 :00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Seat tle KJR 950 3:30 p.m. Valdos ta WGAF 910 1:00 p .m. 12:00 n. Spokan~ KGA 1610 3 :30 p.m. Idaho, Boise KGEM 1140 3 :00p.m. N. Washington, D. c. WMAL 630 1 :00 p.m. Pocatello KEIO 1440 9:30 a .m. W. VIrginia, Beckley WWNR 620 1 :30 p.m. Twin Falls KTFI 1270 7 :30a.m. Huntington WHTN 800 8:00a.m. llllnola, Chicago WENR-WLS 890 2:30p.m . Parkersburg, Sat. W COM 1230 6:30p.m. Quincy WGEM 1440 8:00a.m. Wheeling WKWK 1400 l :OOp,m. Indiana, Anderson WHBU 1240 1 :30 p.m. W iaconaln, Green Bay WDUZ 1400 5:30p.m. Bloomington WTTS 1370 1 :00 p.m . LaCrosse 'WKTY 580 4 :00p.m. Evan sville WJPS 1330 10: 15 p.m. Madieon WIBA 1320 8:00a.m. Ft.. Wayne WGL 1250 1 :00 p.m. Milwaukee WCAN 1250 2 :00p.m. Iowa, Cedar Rapids WMT 600 7 :30 a.m. Neenah WNAM 1280 8 :00a.m. Da venport woe 1420 check a ta. ' Vasau WSAU 1400 9:30 a .m. Dea Moine• KSO 1460 1 :00 p.m. W y oming, Casper KSPR 1470 9:15p.m. Slou:r City KSCJ 1360 10:30 p.m. Cheyenne KFBC . 710 12:00 p.m. Wa terloo KXEL 1540 6:30p.m. Oklahoma, p ;m. Cody KODI 1400 12 :00 p.m. Kaneaa, c orre;rv111e KGGF 690 2 :00p.m. llold p.m. Laramie KOWB 1340 12:00 p.m. Topeka WREN 1260 1:00 p.JI;I. McAieiter l : OV. ~.m. Ra wlins KRAL 1240 12:00 p.m. Wichita KWBB 1410 8:30p.m . Muskogee 2 :00p.m. Rlveflon KWRL 1460 12:00 p.m . Ke n,. Bowling Green WKCT 930 1 :00 p.m . Oklahoma Cltr .1:80 a .m. Torrington KGOS 1490 12 :00 p.m. Harlan WHLN 1230 3 :00p.m. Tulsa J :OOp.m. Worland KWOR 1490 12 :00 p.m . Louisville WKLO 1080 1 :00p.m. Oregon, Eugene . 1 :00 p.m. A laska, J un eau (Sa t.) KJNO 630 1 :00 p.m. Mayfield WKTM 1050 4:15p.m. Medtord 7:30a.m. Canada, T rail, B.C. CJAT 610 9 :30a.m. Newport WNOP 740 2 :00p.m. Portland I :BOp.m . Toronto, Ont. CKEY 580 9:16a.m. Paducah W KYB 570 check s ta. Redmond 3 :30p.m. W innepeg, M an . CKY 580 6: 45 a .m. Loulalana, Baton- Rouc e WLCS 910 1:00 p.m. The Dalles 1•68 p.m. Monroe KMLB 1440 2 :00p.m . P enn., Johns toWn f: op p.m. All times are Sunda y unless otherwise indicated. Page 6 THE SABBATH DAY says that these things, including the sabbath day, were only a shadow of the things to come. But we would also have you notice that those who remem· ber the sabbath day today, do not do it in the way the Israelites did. Under the law of Moses no work was to be done, and when a man went out to pick up sticks on the sabbath day, we are told in Numbers 15 that he was stoned. We don't hear of people being stoned today when they fail to keep this portion of the law. Yet this was the law of Moses. In Exodus 35:3 we told, that they were to kindle no fires. They were to abide in their places, going no farther than a sabbath day's journey, which was less than a mile, and yet the very people who contend so strongly that they must remember the sabbath day, break the sabbath day by going more than a mile, sometimes many miles, on the seventh day. We think all these reasons combined should be sufficient to show us that Christians are not commanded to remember the seventh day of the weelt today. But there are some who say that the sabbath has been changed from Saturday to Sunday. As we search the scriptures we find not one single statement that it has ever been changed. If the sabbath has been changed, it has been changed by man, and not by God. To refer to the first day of the week as the sabbath day, ia therefore, incorrect. If we did keep the first day of the week in this respect, we would be under bondage to observe it as the Israelites did. This would forbid all cooking, all traveling, even the kindling of fires, and it is quite obvious that those who observed the first day of the week as the Sabbath do not often comply with all these requirements. Then, you ask, "Why do we observe the first day of the week?" Surely there must be a reason, but what is it? We noticed in the beginning that it is called the Lord's day. Now it is the Lord's day because it was on this day, the first day of the week, that Christ arose from the grave. We turn to the accounts of the four gospels and we find that early on the day of the week certain women came to the grave of Christ, intending to anoint His body with spices. But ·when they arrived, they found that He had arisen. Several times on that day, the first day of the week, He appeared to His disciples. And on what day did He arise? The first day of the week. Therefore, it is His day, or the Lord's day. But again, it was on this day that the church was establish-ed We have the account of the establishment of the church recorded in the 2nd chapter of Acts. It was the occasion of the THE SABBATH DAY Page 7 assembling of the children of Israel to observe the day of Pentecost. The word pentecost means fiftieth d · It ., exactl f"ft d ay. wao . Y 1 Y ays after the passover on which Chr" t T d 1s was cruc1 1e , and this placed it on the first day of the week 0 Pentecost, Christ's church was established. It was the .firs~ d~y of the week. Therefore, His church was e·stablished H1s day. on In t?e. 20th chapter of Acts, verse 7, we have a record of the Chnsbans assembling to worship. "And upon the first day of the .week when they were gathered together to break bread, Pa~l discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow." Th1s refer~ to the Lord's supper. They observed the Lord's supper, wh1ch was a memorial of the death of Christ on H" da.y, the first day of the week. No amount of figuring ~an pla~: th1s observance on any other day. Some contend that Paul preached on the sabbath day. And that is correct; he preached on the sabbath day to non-Christians, because that was the day when they were accustomed to assemble. If you were to go to a Mohamme~an country today it would perhaps be best to preach on Fnday because that is their day of worship. It is right to preach the gospel on any day, and if you can reach more people on Saturday than on Wednesday, then Saturday is th day to do· t?e. preaching. But we do no have one single exampl: where C~nsbans themselves ever met together to remember the Lords supper on the seventh day. We have another state-ment that would be good to notice. In I Corinthians 16 · 2 P aul says,. "'l!pon the first day of the week let each one of ·y~u la~ by h1m m store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made ;:~~ ~ co.m_e." Why do you suppose that Paul wanted them to e1r g1vmg upon this day if it were not for the fact that th" was the d h" 1s ~Y upon w lCh they were accustomed to assemble? The truth 1s, that every indication that we have in the Ne ;restament points to the fact that the first day of the wee~ ~~ the Lord'~ day-He arose on this day, His church was estab-lshed on th1s day, His disciples remembered His death on this day, they' were commanded to give on this day. So it must be t~e L~rd s ·. day. History confirms this teaching. Barnabas in hls ep1stle wrote, "The eighth day is the beginning of another we~k, and therefore with joy we celebrate the eighth d wh1ch Jesus ., ay on " ~rose: John Martyr, writing about 150 A.D., says, On the Lord s day all Christians in the city or country m eet together, because that is the day of the Lord's a d th resurrection; n e~ we read the Apostles and Prophets. This being done ~he. p~esldent makes an oration to the assembly to exhort theU: o lmlta te and practice the things which they have heard, and Page 8 THE SABBATH DAY then we all join in prayer, and what is collected is laid up in the hands of the president, who distributes it to orphans, and widows and other needy Christians as their wants require." Eusebius, a great historian, tells u-s, "From the beginning the Christians assembled on the first day of the week, called by them the Lord's day, to read the scriptures, to preach, and to celebrate the Lord's supper." End of quotation. Surely all of these ·statements, added to the testimony of the scriptures, should convince us that the first day of the week, and not the seventh, is the Lord's day. And may God help us to observe the Lord's day. In Hebrews 5:9 the writer tells us, "and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation." And then again the apostle Paul warns in II Thessalonians 1: 7-8, "and to you that are afflicted rest with us, as the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus." I would to God that all of us could realize that there is no place for disobedience in our lives if we seek that everlasting home, it matters not whether it is disobedience in observing the Lord's day, believing the gospel, repenting of our sins, confessing our faith, being buried with our Lord in baptism, or worshipping God as His children in spirit and in truth: Our salvation is dependent upon our obedience to his command. James said in James 2:10, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet ·stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all." I beseech you, my friends, today, come to the Lord in obedience. Delay no longer, but "seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." THE HERALD OF TRUTH-Box 1264-ABILENE, TEXAS 

Churches of Christ Salute You with a Herald of Truth: The Sabbath Day

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Churches of Christ Salute You with a Herald of Truth: The Sabbath Day

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