Hello
Friends!
Welcome
to an all-new Encouraging Concepts
multi-part “topical” Bible study series SEEKING to “rightly” address
yet another
often hotly-debated SUBJECT concerning TWO very distinct days – The Sabbath Day
& The Lord's Day: What's the DIFFERENCE?
The
Sabbath Day & The Lord's Day: What's the DIFFERENCE? (Part 2 of 2)
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: There is MUCH debate
TODAY among
“Christians” concerning the Sabbath Day
and the Lord’s
Day in regards to resting ourselves, refraining
from work and attending church. What is the DIFFERENCE and does it MATTER at all? And what particular “day” should they be “considered”
by God’s people – Saturday OR Sunday?
These DIVINELY designed “days” are ultimately UNDERSTOOD
in their fullness, rich meaning and eternal implications
through “God’s” wonderful – WORD, WILL and WAYS!
There is NEVER a covenant command found ANYWHERE in the New Testament writings unto the “church” to KEEP the so-called “sabbath” itself. Incidentally, ALL other “commandments” are indeed rightly repeated, throughout the New Covenant writings, some numerous times. All EXCEPT this fourth fine “commandment” from God Himself. WHY? Because as we’ve “diligently” discussed in prior studies, it was ORIGINALLY placed in the very midst of the “moral law” as a SIGN and a SYMBOL to lead God’s “children of Israel” to be “entered into” an eternal “rest” and eager “repentance” before Him…
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye
shall keep: for it is a sign
between me and you
throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye
shall keep the sabbath
therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be
put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off
from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy
to the Lord: whosoever doeth
any work in the sabbath
day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel
shall keep the sabbath,
to observe the sabbath
throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and
the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on
the seventh day
he rested, and was refreshed. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end
of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of
stone, written with the finger of God – Exodus
31:12-18
However,
when the New Testament is brought forth,
the fourth
covenant “commandment” to “keep the sabbath”
itself is NEVER repeated
FOR our
Lord’s – CHURCH!
RECAP REMINDER: The “sabbath”
itself was originally instituted and “sanctified”
succinctly BY our great “God”
specifically FOR His great GLORY on the “seventh day” of the week
as He “rested”
from His “work” on the “sixth
day” of His “finished”
creation order:
And God saw
everything that he had
made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day – Genesis 1:31
Thus the heavens and the earth
were finished,
and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and
he rested on
the seventh day
from all his work
which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he
had rested
from all his work
which God created and
made – Genesis 2:1-3
The
“sabbath”
was later
properly placed under the Mosaic Law
by our great “God” Himself nestled between
the “fall” of “man”
and the life of “Moses”
himself. And as the centuries passed, we find that NONE of the Old Testament
Patriarchs had ANY kind of “sabbath” sequence or “laws” of ornate “observances”
to rightly KEEP as a “religious”
rank REQUIREMENT of
wonton “worship” unto “God”
Himself – NONE!
We
also discussed
that when the Mosaic Law arrived, “God” had ordained the “seventh day”
as a solemn “sabbath
day” for the “Jewish”
people to RESTRAIN and REMIND them of their “sinfulness”
of heart. Therefore, every Saturday served TWO roles
in the Old Testament:
ONE: It rightly REMINDED them
of their “God” as – CREATOR!
TWO: It rightly REMINDED them
of their “sinfulness” of – HEART!
And
when the New Covenant arrived, “we”
now observe
our great “God” not only as caring CREATOR and
loving LAW-GIVER due to our “sin” but also as the SALVATION of
real “rest” for our SOUL eternal.
Therefore, the New Testament serves a brand NEW role with a SPECIAL defined “day”
enjoyed every Sunday in which “Christians” rightfully focus
on “Jesus Christ” as “our”
sweet Sovereign – SAVIOR!
Incidentally,
ever since New Testament times, true “believers” in our “Lord
Jesus Christ” throughout the WORLD have chosen to willingly “worship” Him on Sunday proper. HOW did this happen? WHY don’t “we”
typically “meet together”
on different
determined “days” such as a Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday or
even Saturday for that matter? – Great question!
As
ALWAYS, the “Scriptures”
provide for us the ANSWERS we “diligently”
seek:
And upon the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready
to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight… – Acts 20:7
It
is for this REASON that Sunday the “first day of the week”
has ALWAYS been
designated
as that SPECIAL delightful “day”
set aside as “we” gather “together” in fellowship
to “break bread” and for FOCUSED willful
“worship” within the “Christian”
body – Biblically & Historically!
What is the “LORD’S
DAY” Anyway?
Let’s
pick up where we left off in our previous study to further ANSWER this
fantastic
question…
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: The “Apostle
Paul” addressed the “believers”
in Galatia and Colossi of whom were being DECIEVED into
“turning again” unto the “weak and beggarly elements” of brash “bondage” from which they had rightly FORSAKEN:
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of
God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire
again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am
afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain – Galatians 4:9-11
Behold, I Paul
say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing – Galatians 5:2
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision
made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen
with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from
the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross… Let no man
therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of
the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but
the body is of Christ – Colossians 2:10-14 & 16-17
Again,
here Paul brings the TWO serious “signs”
together of which are FULLY satisfied in the “Lord
Jesus Christ” Himself:
ONE: The
Abrahamic Covenant of “circumcision” in the
flesh!
TWO: The
Mosaic Covenant of the “sabbath
day”
itself!
Thus,
we are to set aside “circumcision” of the flesh. WHY? Because if you hold onto it, you
make “Christ of no effect” unto
you! And do NOT let anybody hold you to the “sabbath day”
of sorts. WHY? Because it was part
of a “religious” economy within a Theocracy of God’s “Law”
that included the “temple,” the “priesthood” and the “sacrifices”
prescribed at that particular TIME
in His divine PLAN for human history. These Sovereign “signs” have thus “passed
away” and CANNOT at all “save”
the soul. Therefore, “you”
no longer NEED the “shadows” themselves. WHY?
Because you already HAVE the “substance” from “God”
manifest in His – TRUE
Rest!
The
testimony
of the “Scriptures” themselves is
quite CLEAR in that the “church”
has taken this issue of a Sunday solemn “worship”
very SERIOUSLY since
the New Testament times
began. And here “we” are TODAY some 2,000 years later and the true “church” is still “gathering”
for fine “fellowship” on a regular
basis, specifically – Sunday!
Putting the PUZZLE together!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: In the closing chapter of
the Gospel of Matthew it is Sunday morning
the “first day of the
week” immediately FOLLOWING the “dawn”
of the “sabbath
day” on Saturday:
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there
was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and
came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance
was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the
keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto
the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He
is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord
lay – Matthew 28:1-6
This
is the Sunday
when “Jesus Christ” was
wonderfully “risen” from the DEAD and
aptly “appeared” to both “Mary Magdalene” and the other “Mary” the mother of “James”
himself. This is rightly – Resurrection Day!
And go quickly, and tell his
disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into
Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly
from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples
word – Matthew 28:7-8
They
must “go quickly” and PREACH that
our “Lord Jesus Christ” has bodily “risen” indeed! And before this SUPERNATURAL event
had occurred, Sunday
had no particularly IMPORTANT place on a “Jewish”
calendar. It was NOT identified as a SPECIAL dutiful “day”
in any sense, religiously or socially. However, when
the “Lord” had “risen”
from the “dead” on the “first day of the
week” itself, that specific “day”
would NEVER be the SAME again! In fact, here we find the very FIRST solemn
Sunday service
of wonderful “worship” unto “Jesus” God incarnate:
And as they went
to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came
and held him by the feet, and worshipped him – Matthew 28:9
This
was a small but solidly sound service of “worship” to be sure. And as “we” too CELEBRATE our great “God”
as blessed CREATOR and LAW-GIVER,
may it be done regularly and joyfully every “day” of the “week”
unto our – Sweet SAVIOR!
And
notice an IMPORTANT detail recorded in the Gospel
of Luke concerning the “sabbath day” of rightful “rest”
for these “Jewish” sisters IN Him:
And the women also, which came
with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body
was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according
to the commandment… – Luke 23:55-56
Notice
the DIFFERENCE of
the specific “day” referenced here concerning
the solemn “sabbath
day” and associated “commandment”
from “God” Himself. WHAT calendar
“day” was our “Lord’s”
physical “body” laid in the “sepulchre” for burial? – SATURDAY!
Then
upon the “first day of the week” being the very NEXT proceeding “morning”
on the calendar, we find another IMPORTANT detail:
Now upon the first day of the week,
very early in the
morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared,
and certain others with them – Luke 24:1
These wonderful “women” and “certain others” arrived at the “sepulchre” with the “spices which they had prepared”
for the “body” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” as was appropriate
for the “Jewish” burial custom. WHAT calendar “day” was this? – SUNDAY!
It
is now “early in the morning” on Sunday and these “women”
are FIRST on
the RESURRECTION scene. They
then go back and “report”
to the “Apostles” what they had “seen” and thus they too willfully “went” to “see”
for themselves. And it becomes very apparent EARLY
in the “morning” that the “Lord” is indeed “risen”
and He is ALIVE and well! He has accomplished
divine REDEMPTION on the “cross”
itself. He has been FOREVER rightly “raised” for our “justification”
and He has CONQUERED all “sin”
and “death” and eternal “hell”
itself. He has “borne our sins” in HIS own “body” and was “made
sin for us” as He “died”
in divinely – COMPLETE
Triumph!
For he hath made
him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him – 2 Corinthians 5:21
And
this is QUITE a devote DIVINELY delightful Sunday
indeed! In the “morning” the “Lord Jesus Christ” had “appeared” to these “women”
and then the “Apostles” themselves. Then
on the SAME afternoon He “appears”
to “two” of His own disgruntled “disciples” on the “road
to Emmaus” to commemorate the very FIRST solemn
sermon PREACHED from the “scriptures” themselves and was excellently EXPOSITORY in
nature:
And it came to
pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near,
and went with them… Then
he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into
his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them
in all the scriptures the things concerning himself… And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within
us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the
scriptures? – Luke 24:15, 25-27 & 32
Then in the Gospel of John we also find another IMPORTANT detail.
Here we
pick up the “resurrection” narrative on
the “same
day at evening” where we left off in doctor Luke’s account:
Then the same day at evening,
being the first day of
the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were
assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith
unto them, Peace be unto you – John 20:19
Again,
it is the “first
day of the week” and the “doors
were shut” tight. And as Luke records “they
were terrified and affrighted” when
“Jesus” arrived. WHY? Because He walked right THROUGH the
wall! These amiable “Apostles”
were NO DOUBT in a state of PANIC when
He “appeared” to them. WHY?
Because the “doors” were locked
and they thought He was DEAD! However, they were quite “glad” as well…
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his
side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again,
Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he
had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy
Ghost – John 20:20-22
Here
“Jesus” gives them a REITERATION of the “Great Commission”
He had ORIGINALLY instituted for them just as His “Father” had GIVEN Him. And He then “breathed
on them” saying: “Receive ye the
Holy Ghost” as a PREVIEW promise of PENTECOST that would soon “come”
as the divine BIRTH of His “Bride”
the “church” body – A
Wonderful DAY!
And
by Friday night,
“Jesus Christ” is physically DEAD and
their HOPES are smashed, dashed
and crushed
beyond compare. The BEST that they could imagine is that they could now
reluctantly “rest”
on Saturday the
“sabbath day”
itself. WHY? Because on that “day” as obedient “Jews”
they could NOT do any work or take a trip
of any kind. Therefore, even the “women”
who were going to “anoint” the “body” of “Jesus”
will have to WAIT until the “sabbath day” is OVER and THEN they’ll get that “work”
done. In fact, it will be a very NICE thing to DO as an act of “kindness”
for the DEAD corpse of the Holy ONE of Whom they had eagerly “loved”
and thus – TRUSTED!
However… By the time THIS
supernatural Sunday is over, they will all
KNOW for absolute CERTAINTY
that “Jesus Christ” is actively ALIVE from the DEAD! “Peter”
knows it, “John” knows it, “Mary Magdalene” knows it, the “other Marys” know it, the “other women” and “other
disciples” know it. With one EXCEPTION…
Besides “Judas” of whom had ALREADY taken his own life, WHICH of the ORIGNAL
trusty “twelve” was “not with them” here in this inaugural gathering? –
Thomas!
But Thomas, one of the twelve,
called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came – John
20:24
Such a doubter! At this point, “Thomas”
was most likely hiding over in the corner thinking: “I was right! And I have EVERY reason to DOUBT!”
– But then…
The other disciples therefore
said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails,
and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his
side, I will not believe – John 20:25
“And” what HAPPENS
next is WONDERFUL indeed:
And after eight
days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus,
the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you – John 20:26
Then
“after” these “eight days” had passed, WHAT
specific “day” would this be? Sunday! Nothing else had “happened” in the SEVEN
proceeding “days” in between. In
fact, it is NOT until that EIGHTH delightful “day”
that the “eleven” living “disciples” would be “gathered”
together again found HIDING
in freezing FEAR of the “Romans” and the “Jewish”
leaders. “Then” what happens NEXT is amazing…
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my
hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not
faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God – John 20:27-28
And “Jesus”
replied to “Thomas” with a WONDERFUL word
for ALL of “us”
who “believe” but “have
not seen” Him TODAY
as well:
Jesus saith unto
him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they
that have not seen, and yet have believed – John 20:29
On
that super Sunday
He “said” unto His “disciples” that complete FORGIVENESS of “sins” was
now available THROUGH what HE had accomplished for
all TODAY of whom “have
not seen” and “yet”
would “repent” and “believe” on Him. It was on this sweet Sunday that He instituted the “Great Commission” where “they” were to “go”
and “proclaim the gospel” and MAKE decided “disciples”
for His glory. Here “Jesus Christ”
launched an initial worldwide “mission”
of “evangelism” by commissioning His
personally chosen “Disciples” and “Apostles” to tangibly “take the gospel” throughout the “ends of the world” until He one “day” dutifully – RETURNS to Earth!
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And
he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which
the Father hath put in his own power – Acts 1:6-7
“But” it does NOT
end there. WHY? Because our “Lord” was “proclaiming”
something very SPECIAL about this “day” as He established a
brand New Covenant declared on that
dynamic – Day of Pentecost!
But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth – Acts 1:8
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each
of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at
Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was
noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that
every man heard them speak in his own language… – Acts 2:1-6
This
is the FULFILLED prophecy of John’s Gospel concerning the COMING of the “Holy
Spirit” Himself as “Jesus Christ”
had boldly “breathed on them” to rightly “Receive the Holy
Ghost” just as He had PROMISED them repeatedly
in kind:
And I
will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you forever; Even the Spirit
of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:
because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye
shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you – John 14:16-20
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing – John 15:4-5
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that
I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment – John 16:7-8
QUIZZING QUESTION: And what “day” of the “week” was “Pentecost”
established? On Sunday morning “after the sabbath”
of course! HOW do we “know”
this? Because the Old Testament book of Leviticus righty REVEALS
the Biblical ANSWER we “seek” to discover:
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath,
from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new
meat offering unto the Lord.
Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they
shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto
the Lord – Leviticus
23:15-17
And according to this poignant passage, the “feast of
weeks” is designated as “Pentecost” and was designed
by “God” Himself to dedicate the “firstfruits” of the “wheat” harvest.
It is referred to as “Pentecost” with “pente” meaning “five” as it had
occurred “fifty days”
immediately AFTER the “sabbath day” itself. Therefore, SEVEN times SEVEN equals 49 plus another “sabbath day” would
make it 50 actual “days” until “Pentecost”
representing the PROPHETIC fulfillment
of the BIRTH of the “church” body – ON Sunday!
POIGNANT POINT: The absolute WORST
thing possible for “people” who profess
themselves as Biblical “Christians”
is to take the “works” intended for the Mosaic Sabbath and try to IMPOSE them on Sunday
the “Lord’s Day” itself. WHY?
Because that is the OPPOSITE intention of “Christ” Himself:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in
respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a
shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ – Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore,
Paul declares to NOT let anyone HOLD you to any “sabbath days”
ritual. WHY? Because “we” as beloved “believers”
in “Jesus Christ” are NOT
under the Mosaic Law anymore with its
system of constraints, ceremonies, restrictions
and restraints
found within the Old Covenant itself. Rather, it
is a NEW delightful “day”
where man-made Judaism
and the “religious” leaders of “Israel” have been left behind. WHY? Because “we”
now have a New Covenant from God. However,
Saturday the
“sixth day” does indeed remind
all of “us” that the “Lord” had “created”
absolutely EVERYTHING in “six”
literal “days” and is a representation
of Sunday as an original
sweet “sabbath”
of sorts – Back IN Genesis!
From
Genesis chapter 2 our great
“God” had rightly “rested” until His giving
of the Mosaic Law millennia later. And
throughout ALL that period of
time, there were NO ritual restraints on anyone’s “religious” personal ACTIONS on a Saturday.
It was simply a “day” that one could REMEMBER our
great “God” as blessed “Creator” of ALL things. And that God-given “Law”
did NOT come
until “Moses” was purposely “called” by “God”
Himself. Therefore, the Mosaic Law
had BEGAN with
“Moses” and it ENDED with “Jesus Christ”
and His final FULFILLMENT of the Old Covenant and His ESTABLISHING of the New Covenant
on “our” behalf:
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of
God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire
again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am
afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain – Galatians 4:9-11
That
is the pressing PROBLEM with what is known as Covenant
Theology in that they do NOT rightly “understand”
where old “things” have ENDED and
where new “things” have BEGAN anew.
Certainly after “Pentecost” itself ensued, Sunday was
very well established in the “hearts”
of “God’s” people. However, did they “worship” Him ONLY on Sunday proper? – NOT AT ALL!
And they
continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking
of bread, and in prayers…
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved – Acts 2:42 & 46-47
The
early “believers” in the first
century “continued stedfastly”
in LIVING this
wonderful way EVERY single “day”
and that is what Sunday
should be TODAY as well! It should be a “day” of fine “fellowship” invested together in deep DEVOTION to the “apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,
and in prayers” and ENJOYING each
other’s company with “gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God” in a HAPPY and
JOYOUS dependent
“day”
of delight! It is NOT to be a dooming “day”
of a FEARFUL looming
threat
of the “Law” itself. Rather, it is a
“day”
when we rightly – Celebrate our REDEMPTION!
And
although they were “continuing
daily”
together EVERY dawning “day”
in kind, it didn’t take too long before they
cordially “came together”
on that SPECIAL fine “first day of the week” in kind…
And upon the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready
to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight – Acts 20:7
No
special “law” has been “given” to establish this
determined “day”
of wonderful “worship” as such. However,
by this time the “Apostle Paul” is well
into his “ministry” mission. And many
“years” have passed since the “resurrection” of “Jesus
Christ” and this delightful “day” was supernaturally
chosen as a HISTORICAL matter of – Biblical FACT!
And
eventually
this initial “day”
became so PRECIOUS to our “Lord Jesus
Christ” that His “church”
had RECEIVED its
own “day”
known as the “Lord’s
day” some 30 years AFTER Paul’s
“ministry” endeavors had ended
around 95-96
A.D. as the “Apostle John”
pens God’s FINAL bold “book” of tangible “testimony” for mankind…
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called
Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in
the Spirit on the Lord's
day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I
am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a
book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and
unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto
Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea – Revelation 1:9-11
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Some scholars and theologians TODAY seem to
CONFUSE
this passage concerning the “Lord’s day” with the eschatological
end-times “great and terrible” dreadful “day of the Lord” depicting the
physical SECOND COMING of the “Lord Jesus Christ” to this EARTH when He administers His
Righteous “judgment” upon the WHOLE world…
And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is
very great: for he is strong
that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide
it? – Joel 2:11
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come – Joel
2:31
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that
sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge
and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many
crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in
fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that
with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:
and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords – Revelation 19:11
However, the “Apostle John” did NOT personally experience
the fearful FINAL destructive “day of the Lord” on the “isle that is called Patmos” when he had
penned this last-day’s letter. Incidentally, the dooming “day of the Lord” utilized in the
original Greek is t hmera tou kuriou and is a
very distinct
phrase. Conversely, the “Lord’s Day” used here is
actually t kyriak hmera and is a completely
DIFFERENT phraseology
of which is found ONLY here in the New Testament
itself. Therefore, this specific “Lord’s day” seems to represent
a non-eschatological
end-times event of sorts. Therefore, our loving “Lord”
seems to have initiated John’s end-times “vision”
on a Sunday proper – The
Lord’s Day!
In
closing:
Beloved,
“we” are NOT under the Old Covenant
ruling REGULATIONS nor a “religious”
system of CONDEMNATION and fulfilled “shadows”
cast from the “old things”
of the past that have “passed
away” forever. Thankfully, “we”
have the REALITY of the REAL righteous “rest”
of the New Covenant in “Jesus Christ” our Lord! And this is a
delightful “day”
to rightly “rest”
in the CELEBRATION of our soul’s “new creature” in Him alone – Sweet SALVATION!
Therefore if any
man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore,
rather than “ask” what we should NOT DO on Sunday, let’s
“ask” what we SHOULD
DO instead! Such as: WHAT does my “heart”
of “love” for “Jesus
Christ” rightly “ask”
me to DO fully FOR Him? Incidentally, we are NOT at all FORBIDDEN to work or to play
on Sunday itself. However, it is the
particular “first”
divine “day
of the week” in which we may find our GREATEST delight IN
Him as we “worship” and “fellowship” along WITH
our “Lord’s” people – Body,
Heart & LIFE!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, to readily “rightly” answer this quizzing quandary
from the “Scriptures” themselves, we MUST take
a tangible trip through – God’s
WONDERFUL Word!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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