Sabbath, 9of9

 ~ The Lord’s Day – Sunday – Was Observed By John ~

 

Introduction  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was established as part of The Law.  The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown Saturday evening.  In the New Testament the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on tablets of stone.  It is the heart’s attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10).  Following Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7). 

 

Passage  ~  “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea’” (Revelation 1:9-11).  

 

Comment  ~  From the time of Christ’s resurrection the majority of Christians have chosen to set apart the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The entire Christian faith rises or falls on the reality of the resurrection.  Many have tried to prove that the resurrection never happened.  None have succeeded and many in their attempts found the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Have you?  

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Sabbath, 8of9

 ~ The Disciples Worshipped God On The First Day Of The Week ~

 

Introduction  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was established as part of The Law.  The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown Saturday evening.  In the New Testament the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on tablets of stone.  It is the heart’s attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10).  Following Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7). 

 

Passage  ~  “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.  There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.  And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep.  He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.  But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, ‘Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.’  Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.  And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted” (Acts 20:7-12). 

 

Comment  ~  The Disciples maintained the concept of a weekly day set apart to contemplate God.  In honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week they chose to honor God on Sunday to focus on God as in the past but even more importantly the finished work of redemption by the Son of God in conquering death and rising on the first day of the week.  

 

“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise.  For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. 

 

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Sabbath, 7of9

 ~ Scriptures Are Read On The Sabbath ~

 

Introduction  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was established as part of The Law.  The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown Saturday evening.  In the New Testament the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on tablets of stone.  It is the heart’s attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10).  Following Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7). 

 

Passages  ~  “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.  For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him” (Acts 13:26-27). 

 

“Known to God from eternity are all His works.  Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.  For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach Him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath” (Acts 15:18-21). 

 

Comment  ~  A primary way of reflecting upon and learning about God is by the reading of His Word and sound preaching based upon His Word. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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