Objection:
The Sabbath cannot save anyone. Why not preach Christ instead?
Answer:
It is true that the Sabbath cannot save anyone. But that does not prove what the objector thinks it proves.
The Sabbath cannot save us, but neither can the mere outward keeping of any other commandment. Honoring father and mother cannot save us. Refusing to steal cannot save us. Refraining from murder or adultery cannot save us. Shall we therefore conclude that ministers should not preach against dishonoring parents, stealing, murder, or adultery? Certainly not.
No commandment saves the sinner. Christ alone saves. But the fact that obedience does not purchase salvation does not mean disobedience will not shut a man out of the kingdom of God.
A man is not saved because he refuses to murder, but the murderer who refuses to repent will not inherit the kingdom of God. A man is not saved because he refuses to steal, but the thief who continues in theft and rebellion against God is not walking in saving faith. Likewise, a man is not saved by Sabbath-keeping, but the man who knowingly tramples upon the Sabbath after God has shown him the truth is not merely rejecting a day. He is rejecting the authority of the Lord who made the day holy (see Ezekiel 20:20).
The issue is not salvation by Sabbath-keeping. The issue is whether Christ saves men in their sins or from their sins.
The angel said of Jesus, “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Sin is “the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Therefore, if Christ saves us from sin, He saves us from transgressing God’s law. He does not save a man in order to leave him comfortable in disobedience.
So when we preach the Sabbath, we are not preaching another savior. We are preaching the commandments of the Saviour.
Jesus Himself said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15. He did not say, “If ye love me, explain away my commandments.” He did not say, “If ye love me, keep nine and set aside one.” Love to Christ is not opposed to obedience; love to Christ is the very spring from which true obedience flows.
The same Bible that exalts faith also identifies God’s last-day people as those who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. Notice, the Bible does not set the commandments of God against the faith of Jesus. It joins them together. True faith in Christ does not make war against God’s law. True faith brings the soul into harmony with God’s law.
Therefore, to preach Christ faithfully is not to ignore His commandments. To preach Christ faithfully is to present Him as both Saviour and Lord. He pardons the sinner, but He also claims the obedience of the heart.
The reason some object to Sabbath preaching is not because the Sabbath is contrary to Christ, but because the Sabbath exposes a conflict between human tradition and the plain commandment of God. It troubles the conscience because it asks a simple question: Will I obey God, or will I follow man?
We do not preach the Sabbath instead of Christ. We preach the Sabbath because we preach Christ. He is the Creator who made it, the Lawgiver who commanded it, the Redeemer who kept it, and the Lord who said, “The sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27.
Christ is not honored by setting aside what He has made holy. He is honored when faith works by love and love expresses itself in obedience.
