The Bible Column - Sunday is THE LORD'S DAY!

“In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week…” Matthew 28:1
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Matthew 28:6
“Upon the first day of the week…” I Corinthians 16:2
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…” Revelation 1:10
With increasing participation, churches and people are violating and setting aside the direction of the Word of God in the Scriptures above. The truth involved is that worship of the Lord in local churches is to be done on the first day of the week or the Lord’s Day, and not in place of that day! The reason for this is clearly taught in the Bible as being our Lord’s resurrection day. When the Lord Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a holy and perfect and sinless life, died and gave His life a ransom for many, was buried for three days and nights, and rose again from the dead, victorious over sin, death, Hell, and the grave, the Lord’s Day was established. In this sacrificial work, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law. Matthew 5:17-18. The veil in the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51); making it impossible for the High Priest to do his priestly duty in private with the Lord; (Leviticus 16:2,11,12,15,34; Hebrews 9:2,3,7,23) and the Old Testament Law to be accomplished. The Jewish Sabbath was set aside; the Lord’s Day was established. The sacrificial bodily flesh of Christ on the cross became the veil of the New Covenant which opened the access for us to God through Christ’s once for all sacrificial provision, and for the forgiveness of our sins. Hebrew 9:8-9; 10:19-20
Those who violate the Lord’s Day are found in at least three different groups. First, those who are still seeking to obey the Old Testament law…not understanding the bible truth of the New Covenant. Secondly, those who want to tell God when they are going to gather for their own convenience, and thirdly, those who are so fleshly and worldly minded that they couldn’t care less about honoring the Lord on any day of the week. The judgement of God is upon all violations of the Word of God including violation of the Lord’s Day.
As our society moves more and more into a secular 7 day a week lifestyle, the ways of God are increasingly pushed into the background. Yet for the born again believer, obeying and honoring the Lord needs to be our first priority! Our love for and thanksgiving to, the God of Heaven, for the resurrection of our Saviour from His death and burial on Calvary’s cross, should be our motivation. In Romans 12:1-2 we learn of the blessed opportunity to… “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
May the Holy Spirit of God be pleased to use the Word of God to burden hearts to set aside false teaching and worldly flesh and to obey the Lord today!