A. THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE LORD’S DAY
1. A special day from the beginning. “On the seventh day, having finished the task, God rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy” (Gen. 2:2-3, NLT).
a. God’s example for treating it differently.
b. Do holy things on the day God made holy.
c. Original purpose was rest and/or interruption from work.
2. Part of the Ten Commandments. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days . . . are set apart from your daily duties, and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the Lord . . . no one in your household may do any kind of work” (Ex. 20:8-10, NLT).
a. We must dedicate it to God by “setting apart” your actions.
b. Different activities from rest of the week.
c. Sabbath means rest which renews and re-creates (recreation).
3. God punishes violation. “Keep My Sabbath day . . . it is a sign of the covenant between Me and you . . . anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community” (Ex. 31:13-14, NLT).
a. Signs are reminders of our relationship to God: circumcision, Sabbath, baptism, the Lord’s Table.
b. Punishment for breaking God’s “signs”. “Eats and drinks unworthily . . . damnation . . . not discerning the Lord’s body” (I Cor. 11:29, KJV).
4. Christ fulfilled law. “He has utterly wiped out the . . . broken commandments which always hung over our heads and completely annulled it by nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:14, Philips).
a. Christ did away with Old Testament laws for salvation.
b. Christ satisfied the broken requirements of the law.
c. The law “a shadow of things to come” (Col. 2:17, KJV).
d. Those laws or principles that continue into the New Testament are repeated in the New Testament.
5. Christians don’t keep the Old Testament Sabbath for salvation or sanctification. “So don’t let anyone criticize you . . . for not celebrating Jewish holidays . . . or Sabbaths” (Col. 2:16, NLT).
6. Some Christians kept the Lord’s Day as the Sabbath. Paul said don’t judge them, i.e., Christian liberty. “One man esteemeth one man above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Rom. 14:5).
B. EARLY CHURCH PRACTICES
1. The New Testament church celebrates the first day of the week, not the last day. They called it The Lord’s Day.
a. Because Christ arose, Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1, John 26:1.
b. The Sabbath was over means the law of the Sabbath had ended. “The end of the Sabbath . . . toward the first day of the week” (Matt. 28:1).
2. Early church gathered to remember the resurrection. “Upon the first day of the week . . . the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).
3. Early church gathered for the offering on Sunday. “Now about the collection which you are to give on every Lord’s Day, put aside something you have earned to be used for the offering” (1 Cor. 16:1-2, ELT).
4. Early church worshipped on Sunday. “I John . . . was on the Lord’s Day and I was worshipping” (Rev. 1:10).
C. OBSERVATION ABOUT SUNDAY OBSERVANCE
1. Attend church worship to meet with the Lord. Sunday is not about you, it’s about God. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I” (Matt. 18:20). Does “in My name” rule out golf, fishing, or vacation on the beach?
2. Attend church with other believers in your covenant community. You pledged to support it when you joined the church.
a. Your attendance encourages your family. It is an example to your children.
b. Your presence encourages other believers, motivating them to be as faithful as you.
c. You are exhorted to sing and pray together (Matt. 18:19; Col. 3:16). You are not obedient if you stay home from church to travel for leisure, or participate in sports.
3. Exceptions were made in the Old Testament for sickness, or necessities. “Ox falling in the ditch.”
4. Commitment to be made about New Testament Sunday.
a. To meet the Lord.
b. To fellowship with like-faith believers.
c. To worship God, note the four steps to worship, (1) Prayer is relationship; (2) Leads to fellowship with God; (3) results in intimacy; (d) finally worship.
d. To learn about God, the Bible, the Christian life, our self.
5. Your Sunday observance must be a testimony to unsaved family and friends.
6. You must renew your strength to continue your job and/or vocation. Therefore, there should be a break in physical, social, and emotional stress of your job.
7. When you put God first in all you do, you will correctly celebrate Sunday. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17). This verse comes immediately after celebrating God’s day.
8. Remember, Sunday is “God’s gift” to you. Use it for His glory!
D. QUESTIONS
1. Am I doing what God wants me to do?
Yes ____, no____, questionable ____.
2. Am I continuing the spirit of first-century Christianity?
Yes ____, no____, questionable ____.
3. Am I being a testimony to the saved and unsaved?
Yes ____, no____, questionable ____.
4. Am I preparing myself for my coming week’s responsibilities?
Yes ____, no____, questionable ____.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
For more information on the TRBC Pastor’s Bible Class, log on to the Internet www.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-elmer-towns.
Dr. Towns’ email: eltowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address: www.elmertowns.com
