Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible

Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse: When I was elected pastor of the church, I saw that the sign in front of the building announced Sabbath school at a given hour on Sunday. Almost my first act as pastor was to change that sign to read Bible school. I want no part of anything that is called the Sabbath. Let us turn with all our hearts from any thought of Sabbath keeping. Let us see the horror of mingling law and grace.

Let us remember that we are a new people made alive through the work of the Holy Spirit, that we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Him. Let us understand that the old things have passed away and that all things about us are to be new. We are the people of grace. We were brought in grace, we were made alive by grace, we live by grace, we stand by grace, we walk by grace, we are maintained by grace, we hope in grace, and we wait for the full accomplishment of grace.

Guest (Male): God's word is for God gave to teach, rebuke, correct, and train, equipped by Him we then pursue the work God has for us to do. God's word is for the Christian means to grow in grace and do good deeds.

Over a half a century ago, the late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, then pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, saw the need to spread God’s word beyond the hearing of his local congregation. He started the radio ministry which has become known as Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible. The application of God’s word as taught by Dr. Barnhouse is as relevant today as when he first taught over the radio airwaves decades ago.

The message we’ll be featuring on today’s edition of Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible is entitled The Day of Resurrection. Christians sometimes refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday, but in truth, every Sunday is an occasion for the people of God to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He rose from the dead on the first day of the week, and the early church established the practice of meeting together every week on this day to worship the Lord, break bread, and enjoy Christian fellowship.

With few exceptions, the church has universally accepted and continued this practice. What is the biblical foundation for observing Sunday as the Christian day of worship? The scripture text for this edition of Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible: Romans chapter 14 and verse 5. Here again is Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse with a message entitled The Day of Resurrection.

Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse: Through the Lord Jesus Christ, we come unto Thee our Father and our God, and in the Holy Spirit. We thank Thee for Thy great faithfulness and that Thou dost have us on Thine heart. We pray Thee today for everyone in need, for the aged, the infirm, the blind, for those who are in prison, hospital, for those who have great need, whatever it may be. Wilt Thou meet our need, and especially we pray Thee that as Thy word goes forth in this hour, the Holy Spirit shall take it to our hearts. We ask it in the name and for the sake of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

We continue in our studies on Romans 14:5. One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let everyone be convinced in his own mind. Now, in previous studies, we have dealt with the Sabbath question in several aspects. We now turn to the question of the first day of the week. We will look at the biblical reasons for the observance of the new day, and then at the manner of its observance.

The Bible shows that the early Christians met together on the first day of the week. The primary reason why Christians have always observed the first day of the week is that the Mosaic law has ceased. In the epistle to the Hebrews, there is a long passage covering several chapters showing that the priesthood of the Old Testament has been abolished. The key verse in the passage is the declaration in Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 12: when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

With similar assurance, we can say that there is a change in the day because the law was changed; it was, in fact, abolished. The whole Mosaic system, including its Sabbath day, has given way to the reign of grace. In spite of all that is set forth in the Bible, much of which we have presented in these studies, two groups of professing Christians nullify the Bible teaching by their legalism.

One group insists on observing the seventh day, even though God says that it has been abolished. The other group observes what they call a Christian Sabbath. They model it after the Sabbath of the Old Testament and derive their authority from the law of Moses in spite of the New Testament teachings. We have already dealt with the first group in some detail. The second group, mostly Protestants, are even more inconsistent than the Sabbatarians, for they transfer features of the Old Testament Sabbath to the first day of the week.

Not only has the whole Mosaic system ceased with its Sabbath and every requirement related to that day, but there could be no consistency in borrowing even one of the features of the Jewish Sabbath. This error of borrowing certain features of the Jewish Sabbath is committed by both of these classes of legalists. The law of Moses was never subject to a partial observance; it is a unit. For whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law so that every mouth may be stopped.

And we read in Galatians 3, the man that doeth those things shall live by them, and cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. There is no scriptural warrant for a partial acceptance of the law or a partial recognition of its Sabbath day. The observance of the day with all its requirements must be perfectly kept or not at all. The slightest recognition of the least of all of the features of the Sabbath commits a person who attempts it to keep the whole law.

Under the old covenant, one of the strictest provisions of the Sabbath law was that those who observed it must watch for infractions. And if any man transgressed the law of the Sabbath day, they must stone him to death. Now, I'm sincere in my belief that anyone who wishes to keep the Sabbath must seek to kill anyone who breaks it. In the Old Testament, a man picked up sticks on the Sabbath day, and God ordered Moses to take the man outside the camp and stone him to death. And every one of the people of Israel had to pick up his stone and throw it upon the heap that covered the man. This is a part of keeping the Sabbath.

When I was elected pastor of the church, I saw that the sign in front of the building announced Sabbath school at a given hour on Sunday. Almost my first act as pastor was to change that sign to read Bible school. I want no part of anything that is called the Sabbath. And yet, as I will show, I celebrate the first day of the week. The first day of the week is the Lord's Day.

I have known Sabbatarians who cried out against its observance on the ground that it is called in English Sunday. But all our days are named for pagan divinities: Monday, Tuesday, Woden's Day, Thor's Day, Frigg's Day, and Saturn's day are all soiled from pagan usage. But the Latin language gives quite different names, names that show a Christian background. In Spanish, you will find that the seventh day of the week is Sabado, which means the Sabbath, while the first day of the week is Domingo, from the Latin for our Lord, Dominus.

If a missionary should speak on a Sabbath school in Spanish, he would say Escuela de Sabado. If he were so foolish as to give that name to a meeting on the Lord's Day, it would strike the Latin mind as strangely as if we were to announce Saturday school to be held on Sunday. We do not observe the first day of the week; we celebrate it. It's a new day with a new name. It is announced in the Psalms: the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The New Testament tells us that Christ's death is revealed in this analogy of the rejected stone. And the day which the Lord had appointed when the rejected stone, Christ, would become the headstone of the corner is none other than the day of the resurrection. This is what makes it the Lord's Day. 60 years after Christ was raised from the dead, John spoke of being in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. By this time, the early believers were all celebrating the first day of the week.

It should be noted carefully that every important event recorded in the New Testament after the time of Christ's resurrection fell on the first day of the week. If someone should suggest that there is no formal direct command to keep the first day of the week, we reply that there is an explicit command against keeping the Sabbath day, and the lack of a commandment for the first day is quite in keeping with the nature of the day and the nature of grace. Think of the events that occurred on the first day of the week in the New Testament.

On the first day of the week, the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Now, I either spend chapters on that one subject, or I let it stand as the great monolithic truth that it is, rejoicing that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead and that that fact is sufficient to stand by itself. When the believer realizes that God counts him as having been raised with Christ, he will not go back and celebrate law's slavery from which he has been saved through grace. If the child of grace persists in relating himself to the old creation by the observance of a Sabbath, it is evidence of his limited knowledge of the word and will of God, and thus he falls from grace.

Secondly, on the first day of the week, Christ ascended into heaven for the first time. It must not be thought that Christ lived out behind some rocks or trees during the 40 days that preceded his final ascension. On the morning of the resurrection, he said to Mary, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and to my God, and your God." This was in fulfillment of the Old Testament type of the wave sheaf that was brought to God from each field before the harvest.

And thus Christ had to ascend into heaven to present the value of his death before the Father. This is in fulfillment of Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 9. The proof that he did ascend on the very day of his resurrection is found in the comparison of the two commands: touch me not, and handle me. Third, on the first day of the week, Christ met his disciples in the upper room and revealed himself to them, turning their fear into joy. Four, on the first day of the week, Christ symbolized the new resurrection fellowship by breaking bread with his disciples.

Five, on the first day of the week, Christ commissioned his disciples saying, "As the Father has sent me, even so send I you." Six, on the first day of the week, Christ commanded his disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Seven, on the first day of the week, the Lord breathed on his disciples in the upper room saying, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit." Eight, on the first day of the week, seven weeks after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven at Pentecost and began his ministries for the entire age of the church.

Ninth, on the first day of the week, God directed Paul to celebrate the public ministry of gathering the believers together and preaching to them. The story is found in the 20th of Acts. Paul was at Troas. It is definitely stated that he was in that city for seven days. This means that he was there on a seventh day and a first day. There was an opportunity for choice between the two days, and the choice was made for the first day. We read in verse 7 of that chapter: on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul preached unto them.

In the 10th place, on the first day of the week at the assembling of the believers for the breaking of bread, the Corinthian Christians were told, "Each of you is to put something aside and store it up as he may prosper." 11th, on the first day of the week, the Lord Jesus appeared to John on the island of Patmos and gave him the great revelation of himself in heaven and his plans for the future.

Is it any wonder that Christopher Wordsworth sang that beautiful hymn? "O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light, O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright. On thee the high and lowly through ages joined in tune sing holy, holy, holy to the great God triune. On thee at the creation the light first had its birth. On thee for our salvation, Christ rose from depths of earth. On thee our Lord victorious the Spirit sent from heaven, and thus on thee most glorious a triple light was given."

From the very beginning, the church observed the first day of the week. It is important to present the evidence because there are those who claim that the early church observed the seventh day and that the change was made either by Constantine or by one of the later popes. Now, we claim that there is no contemporary evidence whatsoever for a seventh-day observance, and that there is abundant evidence for the first day. The following quotations from the early fathers are taken from Bowman’s historical evidence of the New Testament, from the Encyclopedia Britannica under the word Sunday, and from Mosheim’s ecclesiastical history.

The earliest reference outside the Bible is that from near the end of the first century in an early Christian manual called the Didache. And there we read: on the Lord's own day, gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks. About the same time, one of the early fathers, Barnabas, wrote: finally, God says your present Sabbaths are not acceptable to me. I shall make a new beginning on the eighth day, that is the beginning of another age. Wherefore also we keep the Lord's day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose from the dead.

In the beginning of the second century, we have the testimony of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch: If then those who walked in the ancient practices attain unto newness of hope, no longer observing Sabbaths, but fashioning their lives after the Lord's day on which our life also arose through Him, that we may be found disciples of Jesus Christ, our only teacher. About the year 135 in our era, Justin Martyr wrote: Sunday is the day upon which we all hold our communion assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world, and Jesus Christ our Savior on that day rose from the dead.

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. And in another place he writes: on the Lord's day, all Christians in the city or country meet together because that is the day of our Lord's resurrection. And then we read the apostles and prophets. This being done, the president makes an oration to the assembly, exhorting them to imitate and to practice the things which they have heard. Then we all join in prayer, and after that, we celebrate the Lord's Supper.

A few years later, in the year 160, we have the testimony of one Bardasanes who wrote this: wherever we be, all of us are called by the one name of the Messiah, namely Christians. And upon one day, which is the first day of the week, we assemble ourselves together, and on the appointed days we abstain from food. In 178 of our Christian era, Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, wrote: the mystery of the Lord's resurrection may not be celebrated on any other day than the Lord's day. From Clement of Alexandria in 194 AD, we read: the old Sabbath day has become nothing more than a working day.

Tertullian of Carthage wrote in the year 200: though we share Sunday with the sun worshippers, we are not apprehensive lest we seem to be heathen. Cyprian of Carthage half a century later wrote: the Lord's day is both the first and the eighth day. Peter of Alexandria in the year 300 has left the following testimony: we keep the Lord's day as a day of joy because of Him who rose thereon. Finally, the great church historian Eusebius, writing in the year 315, says: the churches throughout the rest of the world observe the practice that has prevailed from apostolic tradition until the present time.

So it would not be proper to terminate our fast on any other day but the resurrection day of our Savior. Hence, there were synods and convocations of our bishops on this question, and all unanimously drew up an ecclesiastical decree, which they communicated to churches in all places, that the mystery of the Lord's resurrection should be celebrated on no other than the Lord's day. Now, in the light of all we have seen, let us turn with all our hearts from any thought of Sabbath keeping. Let us see the horror of mingling law and grace.

Let us remember that we are a new people made alive through the work of the Holy Spirit, that we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Him. Let us understand that the old things have passed away and that all things about us are to be new. We are the people of grace. We were brought in grace, we were made alive by grace, we live by grace, we stand by grace, we walk by grace, we are maintained by grace, we hope in grace, and we wait for the full accomplishment of grace.

Just as Jude exhorted us to hate even the garment that was spotted by the flesh, so we are to hate anything that detracts from the grace of God. But much as I hate anything that draws people away from pure grace, so much do I love the people who are entangled in legalism. Just as I would sorrow to see a man caught in a quicksand, so I sorrow when I see one trapped in Sabbatarianism. In giving this series of studies, I have not been animated with the idea of convincing those who have scruples about the observance of a day.

I am commanded by God to acknowledge such as brothers in Christ, even though I warn all who are not in that trap lest they fall into it. It is impossible for me to put into words the hatred that I have for Sabbatarianism and Sabbath keeping. I hate it because I believe that it detracts from the glory of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that it puts stumbling blocks in the way of many simple believers and leads them back into the legalism from which they were once and for all delivered by the death of our Savior.

Oh, the sadness that comes to a believer who knows the truths of grace when he sees any of the Lord's people entangled in the yoke of bondage. Ignatius described the life that is regulated by the principles of Judaism as the yeast that has grown old and sour. The Lord willing, in our next study on this subject, we shall show the marvelous joy of celebrating the resurrection day. We shall learn practically how Christians should order their lives on the blessed first day of the week.

And our God and Father, we pray Thee that Thou shalt give us above all the true rest in our hearts, that we may know what it is to have ceased from our works, as Thou, O God the creator, didst cease from Thy works. We ask Thee that Thou shalt bless the truths to our hearts. Free us from law. Lighten our eyes and lift them to look upon Thee, that we may know Thee better and love Thee more. We ask it in the name and for the sake of our Savior, the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Guest (Male): For centuries, the church has observed the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, as the day to gather together, worship God, and joyfully celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope you have benefited from today's message, The Day of Resurrection. To listen to additional teaching by Dr. Barnhouse, visit us online at alliancenet.org. An audio copy of today's teaching is available by calling us toll-free, 1-800-488-1888. Today's message again is entitled The Day of Resurrection, or simply request message number R14-7.

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Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible is a radio ministry of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We exist to promote a biblical understanding and worldview, drawing upon the insight and wisdom of Reformation theologians from decades and even centuries gone by. We seek to provide contemporary Christian teaching which will equip believers to understand and meet the challenges and opportunities of our time and place.

We also produce the radio broadcast The Bible Study Hour, featuring the teachings of the late Dr. James Montgomery Boice, and Every Last Word, featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Philip Graham Ryken. For a complete list of stations carrying our programs, visit our website at alliancenet.org. Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible comes to you through the generous gifts of listeners like you.

If you have benefited from the broadcast and would like it to continue, please prayerfully consider a donation to help us keep this ministry on the air. For more information or to make a contribution to help further our work, contact us by calling toll-free 1-800-488-1888. Again, that's 1-800-488-1888. Write to us at Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, Box 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Visit us online at alliancenet.org.

Be sure to ask for a free resource catalog featuring books, audio teachings, commentaries, booklets, videos, and a wealth of other materials from outstanding Reformed teachers and theologians, including Doctors Donald Grey Barnhouse, James Montgomery Boice, Martin Lloyd-Jones, and Philip Graham Ryken. Thanks for listening. Join us again next time for more classic teaching on Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible.

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