The devil has two modes of attack against the church of God: as a serpent, he is a deceiver, and as a dragon, he is a persecutor. His first method of attack is almost invariably deception, because if he can deceive a man into teaching lies, he can get him condemned:
(Jeremiah 48:10) "Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully,"
(James 3:1) "My brothers, do not be many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."
(Revelation 21:8) "and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Not only this, but the devil can also condemn all those who follow false teaching:
(Isaiah 9:16) "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and those who are led by them are destroyed."
(Matthew 15:14) "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
(James 3:1) "My brothers, do not be many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."
(Revelation 21:8) "and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Not only this, but the devil can also condemn all those who follow false teaching:
(Isaiah 9:16) "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and those who are led by them are destroyed."
(Matthew 15:14) "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
Concerning the observance of the Sabbath day, the devil has been very subtle, and deceived many into believing a very serious error, that the Sabbath day no longer needs to be kept in the New Testament, but Sunday is now the day of worship and rest for the Church. Jesus taught, "If you will enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19:17), and we know that he was referring to the Ten Commandments because he quoted some of them (Matthew 19:18-19). If Jesus made a condition of entering into eternal life, that we keep the Ten Commandments, then how can we enter into it without keeping them? A true believer will obey Jesus. These words, along with others that Jesus taught (Matthew 5:17-19; 23:1-3), are our basis for observing the Sabbath day in the New Testament. He said:
(Matthew 24:35) "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
(Matthew 19:17) "if you will enter into life, keep the commandments."
(Luke 6:46) "And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?"
(John 14:15) "If you love me, keep my commandments."
(John 12:48) "He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
(Matthew 19:17) "if you will enter into life, keep the commandments."
(Luke 6:46) "And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?"
(John 14:15) "If you love me, keep my commandments."
(John 12:48) "He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to show from the scripture that the fourth commandment, concerning the Sabbath day, was never scrapped by God as a day for his people to gather together for study and worship. Neither God, nor the apostles of Jesus, ever instituted Sunday as a substitute for the Sabbath day, and the idea that Sunday is a memorial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is false, because he did not rise on Sunday.
In view of these facts, we invite anyone who reads this study, who would like to contribute any constructive comments, either to enhance, or to correct, or to contribute in any way that will help others, and bring this study closer to the complete truth.
