The Lord's
Day
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work.
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any
work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
(Exodus 20:8-11)
Strong's "Hebrew Dictionary" shows the use of the words sabbath
and sabbaths in the Old Testament to be defined as "intermission"
or "special holiday:-rest, sabbath." The word is sometimes used in
reference to a weekly sabbath, and sometimes to special feast days. The word itself
does not denote a certain day. The Hebrew people were commanded to regard the
seventh day of the week as the weekly sabbath. They were also given special feasts
such as that of Unleavened Bread, Passover, Firstfruits, Pentecost, etc.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
We have clear guidance from the Bible for the observing of "the
Lord's day" on the first day of the week, for a memorial of Christ's resurrection
as the seventh day had been a memorial of God's finished work of creation.
In John 20:19, we find the disciples assembled
on the first day of the week, and Jesus came and "stood in the midst."
In verse 26, we see that "after eight days again"
the same thing happened. In Acts 2:1 we read:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place."
There, they were again meeting on the first day of the week, and with
the presence and approval of the Holy Spirit. Again in Acts 20:7, "upon
the first day of the week" the Lord's congregation "came together."
In I Corinthians 16:1-2, Paul giving instruction "concerning the
collection," said:
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by
him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."
It was "on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10)
when Jesus appeared to John with the Revelation.
The holiday or day of special observance for a true Christian is
"the Lord's day," the first day of the week. No other day should come any where
close to our regard for, and the observance of "the Lord's day." That is the day
which we are to observe in celebration of Jesus as resurrected Lord and Saviour. The Bible
gives us instructions and examples for how to do it and when.
Just as those of old had the seventh day as a sabbath in honor of God's
completion of creation, we have the first day as our sabbath in honor of the completed
work of Jesus. The Lord's day should be the highest day of our life; it is the day to go
all out. Nothing good should be held back in our observance and honoring of the Lord's
day. It is then that our gifts are to be given in honoring Jesus.
Jesus also gave us the observance of the Lord's supper as an ordinance
to His congregations, saying, "this do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). The
Bible gives us much clear instruction and teaching on this ordinance, and since it is also
a part of our teaching in picture or typology, as is baptism, it is imperative that we
follow the New Testament teachings on it with all sincerity and diligence.
Since Jesus no longer dwells with us in a physical body such as a baby
in a manger, or a man on a cross, it is improper and degrading to worship Him as such. We
do, however, have the presence of His body in the form of each of His congregations of
saved and scripturally baptized followers. If we have gifts to give or honor to show unto
Jesus, then it must properly be given to one of His congregations. If it is our desire to
share the good news about Jesus with the world, it is to "be done decently and in
order" (I Corinthians 14:40), and through one of the true congregations and bodies of
Christ, not through some pagan holiday nor some man-made organization.
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