As the Apostle John begins his great work which
brings to a close the canon of New Testament books he declares in chapter
one verse ten—“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard
behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet” (NKJV). For a moment let us
consider the meaning of this phrase “the Lord’s Day.”
The Sabbath
When the Lord completed the creation of the world,
Genesis 2:3 teaches us that—“Then God blessed the seventh day and
sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had
created and made.” This “sanctification” does not appear to have involved
any kind of human observance of the seventh day as a holy day until hundreds
of years latter when the children of Israel came out of Egypt. Exodus 16:1-36
tells of the miraculous manner in which God fed the Israelites, giving
them “manna” from heaven. They were to gather it for six days (with a double
portion on the 6th day). Yet on the seventh day they were not to gather
it, nor do any work. Exodus 16:29 reads—“See! For the Lord has given
you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you bread the sixth day for two days.
Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the
seventh day.”
Latter, when the Lord gave the Law to Moses
the observance of the Sabbath was included within it. The fifth commandment
stated—“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exod. 20:8).
Specific punishments were commanded for those who violated the Sabbath.
Exodus 31:14 instructed—“Everyone who profanes it shall surely
be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be
cut off from among his people”.
“To Whom Did This Apply?”
It is important to remember that this Sabbath
regulation was given uniquely to the Israelites. There is no record of
anyone observing a Sabbath rest in the book of Genesis, nor is there any
indication that other nations were to observe it. Nehemiah 9:14 describes
what God had done for the Israelites declaring— “You made known to
them Your holy Sabbath” At least one reason that God chose to give
Israel this peculiar regulation was as a means of testing them. When the
original instructions were given to them regarding the collection of “manna”
Exodus 16:4 relates—“And the people shall go out and gather a certain
quota every day, that I my test them, whether they will walk in My law
or not.”
The Teachings Of Christ
When Jesus came to this world He brought to man
a new covenant that was to be followed by all men. Galatians 6:2 refers
to this as “the Law of Christ.” Many of the teachings which Jesus
gave to us were very similar to laws that were a part of the Law of Moses,
yet many were different. In the New Testament Jesus will specifically command
all of the Ten Commandments except one (the Sabbath regulation). The Apostles
of Christ will teach that observance of any particular day as holy is a
matter of indifference (Romans 14:5,6) and that one cannot be judged regarding
the observance of the Sabbath (Colossians 2:16,17). All of this makes it
clear that the Sabbath was not a holy day of worship for Christians.
“On The First Day of the Week”
The New Testament records for us that first century
Christians held another day as a special day of worship. Matthew 28:1,
Mark 16:2,9, Luke 24:1 & John 20:1 all tell us that the first day of
the week was the day upon which Christ was raised. Concerning this day
the Scriptures record three very important points for us:
“Is This The Christian Sabbath?”
It has long been taught by many in the religious
world that the law of Christ (in essence) transferred the Jewish Sabbath
(on the seventh day) into a “Christian Sabbath” (on the first day of the
week). There is no evidence in Scripture that this was ever the case. While
Sunday appears to have been a special day for assembly and worship we do
not see it given the same kind of solemn sanctity associated with the Jewish
Sabbath. In fact if it were, one would be hard pressed to then explain
why capital punishment would not then be required for its violation! (See
endnote - “The One of the Sabbaths”)
“Is Sunday the ‘Lord’s Day’?”
Although the Bible never specifically identifies
the first day of the week as the “Lord’s Day” referred to by the Apostle
John, there is good reason to believe that it is. Two documents written
by Christians in the second century show the special significance that
was given to Sunday by early Christians. One work known as the Didache
(Teachings of the Twelve) instructs - “On the Lord’s day assemble and break
bread and give thanks, having first confessed your sins that your sacrifice
may be pure” (Documents of the Christian Church, Edited by Henry
Bettenson, p. 93). Another written by a Christian named Justin was a letter
addressed to the emperor Hadrian in defense of Christianity. He writes,
in reference to the nature of their worship - “We all hold this common
gathering on Sunday, since it is the first day, on which God transforming
darkness and matter made the universe, and Jesus Christ our Savior rose
from the dead on the same day. For they crucified him on the day before
Saturday, and on the day after Saturday, he appeared to his apostles and
disciples and taught them these things which I have passed on to you also
for your serious consideration.” (Early Christian Fathers, Edited
by Cyril Richardson, p. 287,88).
Given both the scriptural and historical evidence
it seems reasonable to conclude that assembly on the first day of the week
for study, prayer, singing, the Lord’s supper and the collection for the
saints was a binding approved Apostolic example that should be followed
by Christians in this age. While Christians can and should worship in every
aspect of their lives; and assemblies with other Christians at other times
are essential - if we are follow the pattern of the early church (and give
the Lord the reverence He deserves) we should always be certain to set
aside time on the Lord’s Day to worship Him in truth.
1. It was on this day that Christ first met with His disciples (who
were assembled together) after His resurrection (John 20:19).
2. It was on this day that the church in Troas met to “break bread”
and hear preaching (Acts 20:7).
3. It was on this day that Paul instructed the churches of Galatia
and the Corinthian church to “lay by in store” (I Corinthians 16:1,2).
The Greek phrase translated “first day of the week” is mian sabbaton meaning literally - “the one of the sabbaths”. Sabbath may mean either -“1. the seventh day of each week, which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work” or “2. seven days, a week” (Thayer, p. 565-6).
It is generally accepted that this phrase is patterned after the Hebrew method of referring to a particular day of the sabbath week. Thus “the one of the sabbaths” refers to Sunday. Monday would be “the two of the sabbaths”. Mark 16:1,2 make it clear that the phrase cannot refer to the Sabbath day itself.
The Lord’ Day © 2001. 4" x 5 1/2", 9 pp., $.50 each, 100 - $40.00 plus shipping & handling. |
| Ancient Road Publications™ http://kmpope.home.att.net |
