The Lord's Day: Resurrection Joy, Not Sabbath Duty

The Lord's Day:

Resurrection Joy, Not Sabbath Duty

Introduction: The Confusion in Our Pews

Today we’re going to take a look at something that might be a cause of confusion to some Christians. Our Sunday School lesson this morning, titled: The Lord’s Day dealt with God’s command to honor the sabbath day, other special days, and also what we’ve come to know as the Lord’s Day.

Now, because of a common misunderstanding surrounding observance of the sabbath, people might think that they’re breaking God’s commandment if they mow the lawn on Sunday, or if they go shopping, or maybe if they don’t just take a nap and chill, or “rest” the whole day. These are honest misunderstandings surrounding the sabbath and the Lord’s Day by sincere hearts, and they reveal something important—that we're mixing Old Testament Sabbath regulations with New Testament Christian practice.

Some of you grew up being told that Sunday is "the Christian Sabbath," and you've carried those OT sabbath restrictions into your faith. Others have heard that we must keep the Sabbath holy, and you've assumed that means Sunday. Still others feel guilty when you see fellow believers treating Sunday differently than you do. This confusion isn't just theological—it's practical, and it's robbing some of you of the joy and freedom Christ purchased for you.

Here's the truth we're going to establish today: the Lord's Day is not the Sabbath. Christians are not commanded to observe the Sabbath. Our gathering on Sunday is not about keeping a law—it's about celebrating a resurrection. And understanding this distinction will set you free from unnecessary burdens while deepening your appreciation for why we gather together on this first day of the week.

1. The Sabbath: God's Command to Israel

Let's begin by understanding what the Sabbath actually was. Exo 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: [9] You are to labor six days and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. [11] For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

I want you to notice some critical details here. First, the Sabbath was the seventh day—Saturday, not Sunday. God was specific about this. Second, it involved strict regulations about work—no labor was permitted, not even for servants or animals. Third, it was rooted in God's creation pattern and given as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel. This was not a universal command for all humanity from the beginning of time. Adam and Eve were not commanded to keep the Sabbath in the Garden. Abraham did not observe Sabbath regulations.

The Sabbath was instituted at Sinai as part of the Mosaic Law, specifically for the nation of Israel. Exo 31:16-17 The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a permanent covenant. [17] It is a sign forever between me and the Israelites...”

Did you catch that? It was a sign between God and Israel—a covenant marker, like circumcision, that identified them as His chosen people, set apart from the nations. The Sabbath reminded Israel of two things: God's creative work and their deliverance from Egypt. Moses added another dimension when he wrote, Deu 5:15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

The Sabbath carried serious consequences for violation. In Numbers 15, we read a story about a man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day, and God commanded that he be stoned to death. This wasn't a casual suggestion—it was a binding legal requirement with severe penalties. The Sabbath was holy, set apart, and central to Israel's identity under the Old Covenant.

But here's what we’ve got to understand: we are not Israel under the Old Covenant. We are the church, the body of Christ, living under the New Covenant established by the blood of Jesus Christ. And that changes everything about how we relate to the Sabbath day command that does not apply to us, because we have…

2. The Lord's Day: A New Celebration

Now let's look at what the New Testament reveals about the early church's practice. Act 20:7 On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.