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THE LORD'S DAY

Lesson 12

The observance of the Lord's Day as a day of worship and service to the Lord is of New Testament origin. In Old Testament days, under the Law of Moses, God's people observed the "Sabbath."  We will review some of the lesson on the passing of the old covenant and the establishing of the new.

I . THE SABBATH

A. Why Observed

	1.	Because of Israel's deliverance from bondage (Deut. 5: 15).
	2.	It was given after Jehovah delivered Israel (Deut. 5:3), thus it was of the Mosaic dispensation and not observed during the Patriarchal Age.

B. Who observed it

	1.	It was a sign between God and Israel (Exo. 31:13-17; Ezekiel 20:12, 30).
	2.	It was not a sign between God and all nations, but a special sign between God and the Jews.

C. The Sabbath ended

	1.	Some contend "a perpetual covenant," therefore it would not end (Exodus 31:16). The Sabbath was no more perpetual than incense-animal sacrifice (Exodus 30:8; Nu m bers 28: 1 -1 0).
	2.	The end of the Sabbath prophesied (Hos. 2:1 1). Fulfilled (Col. 2:14-17).
	3.	The covenant with Israel including the Ten Commandments has been fulfilled and replaced by the new covenant (Heb. 8:6-13; Rom. 7:1-7; 2 Cor. 3:7-13; Matt. 5:21-22).
		a. Jer. 31:31-34-The prophet speaks of a new covenant between God and man. Man would know God before he was a participant in the covenant. b. The writer of Hebrews (Heb. 8:10-12) quotes Jer. 31:31-34 and declares the existence of the new covenant and declares this new covenant faultless.
	4.	Those trying to justify themselves in Sabbath keeping or anything else by the law are fallen from grace and severed from Christ (Gal. 5:4).

ll  THE LORD'S DAY (THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK)

A. The Significance of it

	1.	Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week (Mark 16:1-9; Luke 24:1, 13, 21, 46).
	2.	On the first day of the week, He was declared to be the Son of God (Rom. 1:3-4).
	3.	Jesus met with the disciples on the first day of the week (Jno. 20:19, 26).
	4.	The church was established on Pentecost (Acts 2). Pentecost was always on the first day (Lev. 23:15-16).
	5.	The Holy Spirit came on the first day (Acts 2:1-4).
	6.	The gospel began to be preached on this day (Acts 2:22-36).
	7.	It is called the "Lord's Day" (Rev. 1: 10).

B. The Observance of it

	1.	The New Testament Church assembled for worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).
	2.	Met to break bread (chief purpose) (Acts 20:7).
		a. This assembly is not to be forsaken. b. "The first day of the week" means every first day just as "the Sabbath Day to keep it holy" meant every Sabbath

CONCLUSION: The Sabbath Day was to the Jews only, and is done away in Christ. The first day is the Lord's day, and is given to Christians. We should rejoice and be glad in it (Psa. 118:22-24).

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