Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
The Fourth Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep It Holy,” was strictly observed by the Jews. It was one of their customs which set them apart from those who practiced other religions. By the time Jesus of Nazareth arrived on the scene, many of the simple commandments had become complicated codes of conduct as taught by the teachers of the Law.
It is plain to see in the Book of Acts that the Apostles, all of whom were Jews, continued to observe the many customs and observances connected to the Law, and one of which was observance of the seventh day of each week as a Sabbath, holy to the Lord. Everyone was to rest on that day, as did God at the creation of the world. Even the body of Jesus was hastily buried in a tomb, so as not to be prepared for burial on the Sabbath. It was a hasty burial, but incomplete because the details of spices, etc. had to wait until the first day of the week, Sunday. Hence the appearance of the women at the tomb. They came to anoint the dead body of Jesus, but were amazed to find that He had risen from the dead. Angels were present to tell them what had happened.
The followers of Jesus, as good Jews, observed the following Sabbath Day, but they also met on the first day of the week, Sunday, which was the day of Jesus’ Resurrection. If we follow the Believers through the Book of Acts, we will see the gospel being preached to Gentiles who believed and were saved. As the gospel was preached in Gentile territories and Christian churches came into being in foreign lands, the Apostle Paul preached that Gentiles were not obligated to observe the Jewish customs, such as circumcision. Because they were not Jews, they did not feel a need to observe the Jewish Sabbath, but, because they were Christians, met on the first day of each week for worship. Over time, the churches of Christ observed a Christian Sabbath, the first day of each week, while Jewish Christians trusted their consciences about whether to observe only the Christian Sabbath or both the Christian and the Jewish Sabbaths. Since the word, “Sabbath,” means “seventh,” we are stretching the definition to mean “day of worship” rather than “seventh day,” and in so doing, we are following the example of the early Gentile Christians.
Now, in 2021, the Christian must realize that he or she does not live under the old Ceremonial laws, but is free in Christ to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus instead. We are not bound by law but motivated by love for Christ in our observance of “The Lord’s Day.” This situation just developed on its own without any proper movement in its name. So the best I can do in advising you about observance of what we have come to call, “The Lord’s Day,” is to offer a few suggestions: “The Lord’s Day” should be a day of rest. Unnecessary work should be avoided. We should seek rest for our minds as well as our bodies. Rest for our hearts is found in worship with other Christians. But we are not legalists. We are free in Christ to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in making decisions about our Sundays. We should love going to church, worshiping the Lord, fellowshiping with our Christian family, serving the Lord together, becoming part of ministries provided by the church, enabled as witnesses to the saving power of Jesus Christ. “What a fellowship! What a joy divine!
“A Sabbath well spent brings a week of content,
With joy for the toils of tomorrow.
A Sabbath profaned, whatsoever be gained,
Is a sure forerunner of sorrow.”
O WORSHIP THE KING
Words: Wm. Kethe, 1561/Robt. Grant, 1833
Music: Joseph M. Kraus, 1785/Wm Gardiner, 1815
1561-1815
Oh, worship the King, all-glorious above,
Oh, gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
Oh, tell of His might, oh, sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.