Chapter VI: Summary

Summarizing what was said last Lord’s day and what has been said today, I am earnestly requesting the Seventh Day Adventists to furnish the following Bible texts which are essential to the support of their theory:

1. The text that commanded any one to keep the sabbath during the period
from Adam to Moses.

2. The text that commanded the Gentile nations to observe Saturday as a
day of rest, even during the Mosaic dispensation.

3. The text in the new covenant, or will of Christ, that commands
Christians to rest on Saturday.

4. The text which says that any one ever ate the Lord’s Supper on
Saturday.

5. The text that even mentions either “moral law” or “ceremonial law.”

In the papers furnished you by the ushers you have a copy of this request for Scriptures. Just to show you how earnest I am about this matter, I’m offering a reward of $100 to the finder of either of these texts. This offer is backed by my personal integrity and sufficient resources. I’m not making it to be dramatic, but to impress you with the fact that no such Scriptures are in the Bible. And yet, friends, these Scriptures are absolutely essential to the support of the sabbath theory. Without these texts, that theory has absolutely not one leg on which to stand. The absence of these Scriptures leaves that theory without any support whatsoever.

As further evidence of my sincerity, I want to make you a proposition. If there is anybody in this audience who believes he knows now where to find one of these texts, I’m giving you a chance to let it be known. I’ll turn to the reference you give, read the text you cite, and see whether it meets the demand. We will not have you arrested for disturbing public worship, or undertake to embarrass you in any way. If you will just raise your hand and let me know where you are, I’ll give you a chance to stand up and cite your Scripture. If any one here even thinks he knows where to find one of these texts, we are giving you permission to speak up now. (Pause. No response.) Well, even if you can’t find it now, maybe you believe you can when you get home. If so, just write to me. My address is on the paper you have. You may write to me in care of the Chapel Avenue Church of Christ, Nashville 6, Tenn. If you want to collect $500, just let me know where those five texts are. I’m simply saying this, friends, to emphasize that the very texts essential to the sabbath theory are not in the Bible. Until the Lord gives us a new Bible, there is no danger of my having to put out any money on this offer.

Beloved, in closing I beseech you to hear Christ and obey his gospel. On the condition that you believe, repent, and be baptized, he promises you pardon. On the condition that you remain faithful to the end, he promises you everlasting life. His gospel has facts to be believed, commandments to be obeyed and promises to be enjoyed. While we stand and sing, we are urging you to come to him and let him save you.