Objection:
You assert that anyone who observes Sunday has the mark of the beast. This belief condemns all other Christian believers and implies that Sunday-keeping Christians who died before learning about the Sabbath are eternally doomed. By claiming that a person cannot be saved unless they observe the Sabbath, you place Sabbath observance as the means of salvation, rather than faith in Christ.
Answer:
We do not claim that everyone who observes Sunday has the mark of the beast; therefore, we do not condemn anyone, whether living or deceased. Paul said to the ancient, idolatrous Athenians, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). It is not our ignorant actions that lead to God’s condemnation, but rather our willful disobedience after gaining a clear understanding of the truth. As James 4:17 states, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
It is not the focus or calling of our ministry to condemn the world, but to preach the truth. We have no desire to judge anyone; judgment belongs to God. Thus, it is inaccurate to claim that we believe a person cannot be saved unless they observe the seventh-day Sabbath. Our position is that only those who, being redeemed by the grace of Christ, walk in obedience to all the light God provides will be saved. Surely no Christian would dispute this.
The Bible tells us that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). Peter urges Christian believers to “add to your faith” a variety of Christian virtues (see 2 Peter 1:5-7). As we continue to walk in the light and embrace the graces and practices revealed to us, we grow in grace and move closer to heaven (see 2 Peter 3:18).
When we willfully refuse to advance down the path because some requirement revealed by God seems difficult to obey, we are rejecting Heaven’s light. By doing this, do we not jeopardize our hope of salvation? Must we not shift from rejection to acceptance of this additional light before it can be said we are truly saved? Regarding the Jews who refused to accept the light that Christ brought, He declared, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin” (John 15:22).
In far-off lands, missionaries from various churches preach about Christ crucified, sharing the love of God and the atoning sacrifice of Christ. They reach out to people who have long violated the Ten Commandments without remorse. As these individuals are touched by God’s Spirit and express a sincere desire for Christ’s salvation, what do the missionaries do? They explain that Christ offers salvation as a free gift but that true children of God should walk in the path God has revealed. In other words, the missionaries advise them, as Paul said to the Ephesians: “Let him that stole steal no more” (Ephesians 4:28). They encourage turning away from actions like stealing, as well as other violations of the Ten Commandments, including murder, adultery, lying, and idolatry. They likely remind them that no liar, thief, murderer, or idolater will enter the kingdom of God.
This, in essence, is what missionaries of all faiths say daily as they guide people to God. We have never heard anyone accuse them of substituting obedience to the Ten Commandments for the grace of God. So why are we accused of substituting Sabbath keeping for grace simply because our appeal to follow God’s guidance includes the presentation of all Ten Commandments, one of which is the Sabbath command? We do not claim—nor do we believe—that keeping the Sabbath command or any other of the Ten Commandments grants a person entry into heaven. Entrance is solely through the grace of God received by faith. However, we do assert that the person who willfully breaks any of God’s commandments, including the fourth, shuts the doors of heaven against themselves. No willful sinner will gain access to its gates. Nevertheless, though one is not justified by the works of the law (Romans 3:20), those who observe it are blessed and have the right to the tree of life (Revelation 22:14, KJV).
