The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-19
SUNDAY HAS BECOME
CHRISTIAN SABBATH
The Sabbath Was Made for Man, and
Not Man for the
Sabbath.
NO MISTAKE BY THE STATE
Laws of Government Based on Laws
of God Given in the Commandments
to Moses--Bariy Sunday Laws.

! Rev w. E. Gibson, pastor of Broad
! dus Memorial Baptist Church, deliv-
cred most interesting sermon yes
terday morning on sabbath Day
Problems" He took as his text, Mark
2: 81. IS: And He said unto them
the Sabbath was made for man and
not man for the Sabbath. Therefore
the Son OF man is Lord of the Sab
bath"
The preacher sought to show tina,
the observance of Sunday as the Sab
bath was in conformity with the laws
of the prophets and of the early Chris
tians In their relationship to ciyili-
ration and the common sense demands
Of the people. He said in part:
"All over the Christian world Sun
day has become the Christian Sabbath
the day of rest and worship. In my
own mind and heart l am satisfied
that this Is Gods will, that 1t is
pleas sing to Him, that this first day
OF the week. the Lords Day. should
be remembered and observed as holy
unto the Lord.
Il will give you my reasons. They
are based on this Scripture. The Sab
bath was made for man, and not man
for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son
of man is Lord of the Sabbath
Now the Jewish Sabbath com.
memorated the completion of the work
OF creation, the completing act being
the creation OF man The Sabbath
was instituted in his interest, for his
highest good. II was to be rest
day. and holy day. day OF cessa
ton from toll, and a day of religious
devotion. of the worship of God. Also
II typifed that Sabbath of rest which
remains for Gods people.
Now the Christian Sabbath COM
memorates the completion of the re-
demptive work by the resurrection OF
the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead
! On the Jewish Sabbath His body rest.
ed in the grave. but on Sunday morn
ing He came forth triumphant Lord
The resurrection OF Christ from
the dead Is the most stupendous fact
in human history ii marked the COM
pletion OF the grandest undertaking
ever conceived OF. and which was
planned before the foundation of the
world.
And remember 1t was by the same
Lord, by whom all things were created
that this grander and more glorious
work WAS completed.
I He is Lord OF all Lord of the
sabbath as well as OF all other In
stitutions. and by His resurrection He
has forever made Sunday a conspicu-
Gus day, a memorable day. designated
in the Scriptures as the Lords Day
Ana II signifies rest in richer and
I fuller measure than the Jewish Sab.
I bath, and gives foretaste OF that
heavenly rest He has provided for His
redeemed people. AS His resurrection
/ revealing so much of God, and &C
complishing so much for man. took
! place on the first day of the week this
has become the day that His people
love. and that they hold sacred, and
devote especially to His honor and
worship.
! Lords Day as Sabbath.
7 And while the New Testament
gives no instruction regarding doing
away with the Jewish Sabbath and
observing Sunday instead, it's prsnci-
pies and practices are in harmony
with the change. and the faithful OBJ
serSance of the Lords Day as the
Christian Sabbath fuifills the spirit OF
the Old Testament command and al
the same time fttingly honors Him
who is Lord of all.
/ Regarding the New Testament
teaching. ii is significant fact that
at the council held at Jerusalem, par
ltictpated In by all the leading apps.
under consideration was whether GEN
tile Christians must observe the law
OF Moses, not one word OF instruc-
/ ton was given regarding observing
the laws of the Jewish Sabbath. The
inference is that this old institution,
the Jewish Sabbath, along with other
legal requirements, like circumcism
and burnt offerings and sacrifices, was
done away with by the completed work
of Christ and new day ushered in
a day of grace and salvation.
| 1T is significant also In New Tesla
ment practice that this day--the
Lords Day-became at once marked
day-~a day set apart for assembling
together In the name OF Jesus and for
His worship. Whether Jesus gave in
structson regarding II, which is not
recorded. or whether the custom arose
from natural promptings OF hearts
full of love and gratitude to Him
however 1t came about. 1t Is signif-
cant that from the first Sunday became
the Lords Day-the day of public
worship.
'On the first Lords Day the dis
ciples were assembled in the upper
room. Thomas being absent. and Jesus
came and met with them week
passed. and the second Lords Day
came, and they were together again
in the upper room, Thomas being pres
ent, and again jesus came into their
midst, and It is evident they had not
seen Him in His resurrection body
since the Sunday before.
Have we not here sufficient reve-
lation of the will of Him who Is the
Lord of the Sabbath? From the very
first, then. Sunday became the Lord
Day. the day OF public worship. and
we. the Lords people. are justified in
observing Sunday as our Christian
Sabbath.
The Civil Problem.
| Government is necessary and OF
divine appointment The powers
that be are ordained of God and
rulers are not a terror to good works
but to the evil 1t Is the duty Of the
State to provide and enforce laws for
the protection of its citizens and to
insure their rights and privileges.
/ This problem Is giving rightful al
legiance to the State and at the same
time rightful allegiance to God is no
new problem.
TT was a disturbing problem In our
Sayiour's time, and you remem Der
His solution to II: Render unto Caesar
the things that are Caesars, and unto
God the things that are Gods
That u.s. we owe a duty to both
and rightly there should be no occa-
Let - t~A 49,