The Sabbath, A Test Question
Extract from Grace - An Exposition of God's Marvellous Gift by Lewis Sperry Chafer

   The distinction between the reign of law and the reign of grace is at no point more sharply drawn than in the question of the observance of the seventh day of the week or the first day of the week, for these two days are symbolic of the dispensations to which they are related. Likewise, at no point is personal religious prejudice, which is born of early training and sentiment, more assertive than on the Sabbath question. It was His liberal teaching on the observance of the Sabbath which, more than aught else, provoked the wrath of the Jewish leaders against Christ, and, it may be observed, there is no religious subject today which so draws out personal convictions and opinions. The reason is evident. Few have really comprehended the exact character and principle of grace. To many, Christianity is a system of human works and character-building from which merit accrues. And the observance of a Sabbath day presents extraordinary opportunities for the exercise of meritorious works. The question is a far deeper one than the observance, or the manner of observance, of a day. It is the fundamental question whether grace is to reign supreme in place of law, or whether it is to be commingled with law. The roots of this problem reach down to the bedrock issue which forms the very structure of the two opposing principles of pure law and pure grace. For its solution, the question demands more than a superficial opinion. Truly the choice of a particular day and the manner of its observance is a test question as to the individual's intelligent adjustment to the whole grace revelation. As there can be no proper commingling of the reign of law and the reign of grace, there can be no proper commingling of elements which, according to the Scriptures, are the essential features of these widely different days. A "Christian Sabbath" is a misnomer, and the very use of the term indicates inexcusable inattention to Bible terms, and an un- challenged freedom of mind and heart which is willing to sacrifice the richest treasures of grace by commingling them with law. It is not a problem of interpretation; it is a question of whether personal sentiment, prejudice, or ignorance shall blindly override the very foundation of the right divisions of Scripture.

   These two days, typical of two opposing governing principles and two great dispensations, are absolutely unrelated. Of the whole  Decalogue it is the Sabbath day commandment only which is not carried forward in any manner whatsoever into the reign of grace, nor could it be. Failure to base the distinction between these age- representing days upon the essential character of their respective relationships - pure law and pure grace - is resulting in an almost universal confusion of mind on the subject among Christians, and this, in turn, provides the opportunity for present-day legalists to promote their Christ heresies.

     Intelligent comprehension of pure law is clarifying to the mind, for its very oppositeness to pure grace safeguards a clear comprehension of grace. On the other hand, the greatest foe of such clear comprehension of pure grace and its issues is the confusing, soul- wrecking, and unscriptural admixture of these opposing principles. This admixture is ruinous at every point, but at no point is it more destructive of Scriptural distinctions than in the confusion of a Jewish Sabbath with the Christian's day - the Lord's Day, or Sunday.

    Consideration at length might be given to many vital differences between the law obligations and the obligations under grace, such as circumcision, tithing, and sacrifices; but unlike the Sabbath question, these issues are self-adjusting when the glory of grace in some measure is comprehended. To many, on the other hand, the Sabbath question bulks largest as an essential of their religion. It therefore demands particular consideration.

    The reasons for this discussion are four: (1) It vitally determines the individual's conception of, and blessing in, grace. (2) It of necessity determines the character of the believer's conduct and measure of comprehension of his Scriptural obligation to God. (3) It is the central issue of a misleading heresy. (4) It is now urged as a national reform, in which it is proposed to legislate a Jewish Sabbath on a Christ-rejecting world.