The"Lord's Day"

by Irvin Barnes
Introduction
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10)
The term Lord’s is translated from the Greek word Kuriakos. Vine defines the word as “pertaining to a lord or master” Thayer says, “of or belonging to the Lord.” Thayer also states that in Revelation 1:10, the Lord’s day, is “the day devoted to the Lord, sacred to the memory of Christ’s resurrection.”

The same term is used in 1st Corinthians 11:20, regarding the Lord’s supper or communion. The church at Corinth had defiled the Lord’s supper to the point that Paul in so many words says, “You should be coming together to eat the Lord’s supper, but because you have defiled it, what you are doing when you come together can not even be called the Lord’s supper.”

Most Christians have a clear understanding of the relationship between Christ and the Lord’s supper. To separate Christ from the supper would render the supper void and useless. The connection or attachment between Christ and the communion cannot be overstated.

According to the statement made by the apostle John, (Revelation 1:10)there is also and inseparable union between Christ and one of the days of the week for it is called the Lord’s day. Lord’s day, Lord’s supper --- they are equal as far as relationship to Christ is concerned. Just as the supper pertains and belongs to the Lord so does the Lord’s day pertain to and belong to the Lord.

The Sabbath Is Gone When John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day could it be that he was in the Spirit on the 7th day of the week which was the Jewish Sabbath? The answer is no! The Sabbath is gone according to the scriptures. There is no Sabbath. There is no 7th day Sabbath, no 1st day Sabbath, no Sabbath at all!

“When will the new moon be gone,
that we may sell corn?
and the Sabbath,
that we may set forth wheat ”(Amos 8:5).

At the time of this writing by Amos the prophet, Israel had a mind for rebellion and disobedience. They desired to “ buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes.” They wanted to cheat in the weights and measures for selling grain and other produce. They hoped for a time when they would not be restricted against selling or doing business on the monthly feast days and on the Sabbath. So, they asked, “When will the Sabbath and the new moon be gone.” Amos tells them that the land shall tremble for this evil. He warns that great destruction will come upon the people as a penalty for their sins. However, he also answers the question, “When will the Sabbath be gone?”

“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day,” (Amos 8:9).

When will the Sabbath be gone? When the sun goes down at noon and the earth is darkened on a clear day. Did this ever happen and if so when? The words of the prophet were fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ.

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour...” (Matthew 27:45)

The sixth hour, Jewish time, corresponds with our 12 o’clock noon. The ninth hour corresponds with our 3 p.m. Therefore, when Jesus was on the cross the sun went down at noon and the earth was darkened on a clear day. From that moment forward the Sabbath was no longer binding on God’s people, for Jesus took it out of the way and nailed it, along with the rest of the law of Moses, to his cross.

“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” (Colossians 2:14).

The Sabbath Will Cease The prophet Hosea also foretold the end of the Sabbath.

“I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her Sabbaths,
and all her solemn feasts,” (Hosea 2:11).

Feast days, refers to yearly festivals such as the Passover, Pentecost, feast of atonement, feast of tabernacles and of the trumpets (Leviticus 23). New moons refers to the monthly observances and Sabbaths refers to the weekly Sabbaths. All these the writer
says, will “cease.”

After Paul, in Colossians 2:14, explains how that Christ took the ordinances of the law of Moses out of the way and nailed them to His cross, he went on to say:

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon,
Or of the Sabbath days,” (Colossians 2:16).

Meat and drink refers to the daily sacrifices, holiday refers to the yearly feasts, new moon the monthly feasts, and the Sabbath days to the 7th day observance.

Hosea said all these observances would cease. Paul says since Christ died on the cross, they have ceased. Since Christ nailed these ordinances to his cross no man has a right to judge a Christian because he no longer observes these old Jewish holidays.

What Day Is the Lord’s Day? Since the Sabbath is gone, the Lord’s day spoken of by John in Revelation 1:10, cannot be the 7th day Sabbath. The only other day of the week upon which importance is placed in the scripture is the first day of the week. The first day of the week has a unique relationship to Christ as set forth in the following points of scripture.

Jesus Resurrected on the First Day of the Week The first day belongs to, and pertains to, the Lord because he was resurrected on the first day of the week. The importance of the resurrection of Christ cannot be overstated. The resurrection of Christ is called, “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,” Ephesians 1:19.

“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons,” (Mark 16:9--NIV).

This passage should settle the question as to what day Jesus was raised from the dead. However, since the KJV says, “ Now when Jesus was risen,” some who desire to keep the 7th day claim that Jesus was already risen when the women came to the tomb and therefore, they say, he was raised from the dead on the 7th day of the week.

Luke 24 offers absolute proof that Jesus was raised on the first day. Jesus himself stated that he would be raised on the third day following his crucifixion (Luke 24:46). While walking on the road to Eminaus, Cleopas told Christ, “today is the third day,” since Jesus was delivered, condemned to death, and crucified (Luke 24:13-21). Verse 13 declares that the journey to Emmaus was on the same day the women went to the tomb. So Jesus was raised the day the women went to the tomb, the same day Cleopas went to Emmaus which was the 3rd day since Jesus had died. What day was it? Luke 24:1, says the women went to the tomb on the first day of the week. The women did not go to the tomb on the Sabbath day nor was the Sabbath the 3rd day following the death of Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, which is our Sunday.

The Church Started on the
First Day of the Week According to Acts 2:1-4, the baptism of the Holy Ghost came upon the 12 apostles. This was on the first Pentecost day after the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus had promised that the Holy Ghost would come to the apostles Acts 1:2-9. The Holy Ghost could have been dispatched from heaven on any day. It is significant that Christ saw fit to send the Holy Ghost to the apostles on the first day of the week.

When the Jews heard the preaching of Peter and the other apostles on the day of Pentecost, 3000 responded in repentance and baptism and the Lord added to the church such as should be saved (Acts 2:36-47). This is the first time in the new testament that the word church is used in the existing sense. Previous to this time you will find the word church mentioned in the future tense, such as; “upon this rock I will build my church,” Matthew 16:18. Upon the obedience of the penitent Jews the church was thus started.

Pentecost was one of 5 Jewish celebrations commanded in Leviticus 23. Beginning, at a specific Sabbath, the Jews were to number 7 Sabbaths complete. Seven times 7 equal 49 days. The day following the 7th Sabbath was the “fiftieth” day which is the exact meaning of the word Pentecost. Since Pentecost or the 50th day ‘followed a Sabbath or 7th day, the day of Pentecost always fell on the first day of the week. The church, then had its beginning on the first day of the week.

First Day Worship The first day of the week is also distinguished from the other days of the week in as much as Christians are taught to assemble for the communion on the first day of the week (Hebrews 10:25 & Acts 20:7). It should be remembered that as the Lord’s supper pertains to the Lord, the Lord’s day also pertains to and belongs to the Lord.

Paul commanded a collection to be taken on the first day of the week (1st. Corinthians 16:1-3) Those who practice Sabbath keeping claim this was a special collection that would not be continued after Paul came to take it to Jerusalem. Please note the passage does not say, “that there be no more collection ever gain, after I come,” but says simply that they were to take a collection each first day so the funds would be ready when Paul or others arrived. Nothing is said to prove that they would not continue the first day collection every first day of the week after Paul departed Corinth for Jerusalem. The first day is distinguished by this act of giving in the assembly on each first day of the week.

Conclusion It is my sincere hope that this short publication will renew in those who read it a greater appreciation for the first day of the week. Let us as Christians put the Lord back into the Lord’s day. Let us use the first day of the week for worship, reflection, thanksgiving, Bible study and visiting. “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalms 118:24.

What Can You Do? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

We Welcome You Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body [collectively called the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16),] assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please contact me at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell). Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.