The Lord’s Day … What Is It?

Sermon Topic Resurrection Sunday 3/31/13 The Lord’s Day … What Is It? Elder Dennis Trudgen
Hymns: #417, Thanksgiving Prayer; #56, Up From The Grave He Arose
Some have commented: Every day is the Lord’s day!
Why do we meet on Sunday to worship? … some denominations consider worshiping on the pagan day of the Sun (1st day of the week) to be the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation 13:16-17. There is no direct Scriptural command to the New Testament Church to worship on a particular day of the week.
Romans 14:4-6, 10 … One man holds a particular day of the week as holy, another man regards every day the same … each one should be fully persuaded in his own mind. If one regards a certain day of the week as holy, let him do that unto God; and if another regards all days of the week the same, let him do that unto God. We must not judge another person, because everyone stands before God to be judged. We also should not cause a brother or sister to stumble in their walk with the Lord.
The Jews the early New Testament Church met on the 7th day, as was customary and commanded by God (Exodus 31:13-17, the Shabbat [Sabbath] on the 7th day of the week is a sign between God and Israel FOREVER msl), and the Church also met on the Lord’s day.
Revelation 1:10 … I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day … the Apostle John, in exile on the island of Patmos, introducing the narrative of the vision he was given
In most old-world pagan cultures, the days of the week were named for their idol gods. In the Spanish language, though, the 7th and 1st days are called “Sabado” (Shabbat) and “Domingo” (the Lord’s Day)
The Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) both occurred on the 1st day of the week … in fact, all events on God’s calendar take place on specific holy days; like the giving of the plates to Joseph Smith on Rosh HaShanah.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 … discussing the Corinthian Church taking up a collection for the Church in Jerusalem … Paul states as a matter of fact that the Church was coming together on the first day of the week.
From the early Church writers … Didache, circa 100 AD, mentioned the Lord’s Day
Ignatius, 2nd century AD, stated that the Church was no longer observing the Shabbat
Justin Martyr, circa 160 AD, praised the Lord’s Day as both the 1st day of Creation and as the day Jesus rose from the dead
The early Church disagreed on specific points of observance, but always PEACEABLY … for example, Polycarp (a disciple of the Apostle John) and Anicetus had a disagreement between them about the days of the week but were united as brothers in the faith. If anger is allowed in, that’s where demons also enter in, and you are no longer with Christ.
Theophilus, circa 180 AD … the Eastern Church kept the Passover on the 14th day from the new moon, while the Western Church kept the Sunday after the Jew’s Passover for their celebration of the Resurrection (today is 5 days after the Passover )
Tertullian and Commodius, early 200’s AD … still observing the celebration in the first month
Dionysius, circa 260 AD … mentioned that there was a debate in the Church about when the fasting and mourning ended and the celebration and feast began … his advice was, when you start your celebration, start it with JOY.
Anatolia, circa 270 AD … the celebration should be on Sunday … on that day, stop mourning and start rejoicing.
Malchius … mentions Paschal (Hebrew “Pesach”, the Passover) festival, and tells us to sing praises.
Apostles’ Constitution, 390 AD (after Constantine’s conversion) The celebration is to be observed exactly, on Sunday.
Ether 3:11 … Jared and his whole party, on the sea during that long voyage, never ceased to sing praises to the Creator.
This is a day to praise our God!
The service continued with specials, including a song by Brother Chris Moran with his guitar, and a lovely rendition of “Jesus Loves Me” by the little ones of the Bradley Local, with piano accompaniment, and closed with the Hymn Great And Marvelous