August-September 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel

Yes, Lord!

by Casey Dunnick

Over the past three years or so, the LORD has been managing to open my eyes to more and more of His word, especially concerning the Sabbath. Yet, as I had several decades of "Sunday Doctrine" to overcome, it has been a slow and sometimes uncertain progression. Then, recently, I stumbled across Matthew 23:1-3.

"Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:" At this point note that, "sit in Moses' seat," means, as Moses did, the Scribes and Pharisees are teaching what Moses taught - the Law, the Ten (all ten) Commandments, God's statutes and precepts, etc. Continuing, "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;"

Can it possible be stated any more clearly than that? Yes, we certainly are saved by grace. Yes, Jesus wants us to obey the spirit of the Law. Yes, Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, because "they did not practice what they preached!

"But do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." And, no, we are not in so doing to forget about, or break the "letter" of the Law. Significantly, we should not be breaking the Fourth Commandment. It isn't a "trade," the spirit of the law for the letter of the law. Matthew 23:23 says, ". . . and not to leave the other undone. . ." where Jesus was talking to them about what they were doing instead of the letter of the law.

We are to exceed their ways. That means more, not a trade. Not to "be saved," since we are saved by His grace, but simply to show our faith. ". . .faith without works is dead," James 2:20. We are to show our obedience. ". . .if a man love me, he will keep my words. . .," John 14:23. We are to show our repentance.

For me, this wiped away the lingering vestiges of doubts, and not only for me, but for my wife also, with whom I was blessed to be able to share this wonderful truth. I praise God for His mercy and compassion on us, in revealing His Word, that we might have the opportunity to accept and obey it. To Him I say, "Yes Lord!"

TSS

August - September 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel