The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-06-12

has with reference to many other mat
tiers of practical living? l find tina
it is necessary to remind you frequentl,
OF the fact that the believer is no
under the law. None of the command
ments has any authority v the tru'
Christian. This is reiterated again all
again in the Bible. In Rom. 4 Paul says
''Ye are not under the law" in Gal. 80
After that faith is come, we are no longe,
under u schoolmaster," and the school
master is explained to be the law. In Gal
5:lS, Paul says, But if We are led by the
Spirit. We are not under the law"
No Christian is under the law in any
sense. The law for the Christian is only
of use for instruction.
The question will be asked that was
asked of Paul, Can Il Christian then violate
the law OF will and be blameless? Has he
the right to steal, to lie, to swear and
curse? We reply, if he is a Christian he
will not want to do these things. A Chris
tian is one who is led by the spirit Of God
The evidence of ones genuineness in the
Christian profession is that he follows the
Spirit. He yields always to the Spirit,
Will the Spirit lead a man into stealing:
Will the Spirit lead a man into lying:
Until Christ, one is under the law. But
when faith is come he is no longer under
the law, but is under grace, or, what is the
same thing, led by the Spirit.
At this point comes to light the teaching
of the Scriptures in regard to the practical
tests of being followers of the Spirit. You
will recall the fact that there are many
enumerations in the New Testament of
characteristics of believers and unbeliev-
.ers. And yet you will search in vain in
these lists to find any reference to Sabbath
breakers as one of the evidences of unDe-
Il;ap ~. nc l-nnninr off hnr, thn Sabbath or
the Lords day being an evidence OF genu-
inc faith.
Take the first chapter of Romans. Look
over the list of sins that Paul mentions
there as evidence of unbelief, ungodlinesS
Fornication, the seventh commandment,
c~ovetousness, the tenth commandment,
~disobedient to parents, the fifth, murder,
the sixth, idolaters, the first and second,
deceit, the ninth, hatals of God, covenant
breakers, the third, but not a single init
nation of Sabbath breaking.
: Take Galatians 5. Here we have another
list, adultery, the seventh, idolatry, the
SO on. but not an intimatiOn of Sabbath
breaking. Take Rev. %. Here we find
another list of things that are character
istic of the ungodly, but Sabbath breaking
is not limited at. Look at / Cor. 6. Paul
is there describing what the Corinthians
were before they were saved. IdOlaters,
the first and second, revilerS, pObably re-
ferring to the third, adulterers, thieves,
c%ovetous, but not a reference to abb
breaking.
SO much for the lists OF sins and their
reference to the commandments. Every
commandment is referred to except The
fourth.
But take the New Testament as a whole.
Consider the repeated commands:
The first. Matt. 10. Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God and Him only shalt
serve.
The second. 1 John 5:21. Little children.
keep yourselves from idols.
The third. Rom. 1914. Curse not.
Fifth. Eph. CO. Honor thy father and
mother, which is the first commandment
with promise.
Sixth and seventh. Rom. 1879. Thou
shalt not commit adultery. Thou shall
not kill.
Eighth. Let him that stole, steal nc
more.
Ninth. Col. SO. Lie not one to another.
Tenth. Rom. 10 .. Thou shalt not covet
Thus you will see from these Scriptures
quoted that every commandment OF the
decalogue is reiterated, but there is moi
the slightest reference to the fourth any
where in the New Testament. Hence after
Christ came whether a mai kept the Sab
bath or not was a matter OF utter indiffer'
ence.
AS we have said before, the Sabbath was
a matter OF legal obligation. The Lords
Day is a day of voluntary worship anc
service. The day belongs to him by Pc
culiar right, and all those who believe in
him will not sanctify it because command