THREE “3” SCRIPTURAL REASONS WHY “THE LORD’S DAY" (SUNDAY)

THE LORD’S DAY - NOT SATURDAY -

IS THE GOD-APPOINTED DAY UPON WHICH WE MUST WORSHIP AT THE LORD’S TABLE.

INTRODUCTION:

A. Here we quote Johnson’s People’s New Testament: “On the Lord’s Day.
The day of the Lord’s resurrection the first day of the week. In the earlier apostolic writings the day
was called “the first day of the week,” but by the close of the century it began to be called ‘the Lord’s
day,’ as here. Epistles of Barnabas, Ignatius and Dionysius, written near this time, so style it, and
the name is of common occurrence from this time onward, and is confined to Sunday. It is not
confounded with the ‘Sabbath day’ for centuries.”

B. As most people know, the Sabbath, which would be our Saturday, was established by God as a day
of rest and worship before He gave the Mosaic law, Gen.2:2-3, then included it in the Old Testament
Law, Ex. 20:8; Lev. 26:2; Deut. 5:12-15. Also, in addition to the Sabbath day there were the
Sabbatical (every seventh year) and the year of Jubilee in which the Israelites were not to work their
land and debts were forgiven, as well as property being returned to original owners. See Ex. 23:10-
11; Lev. 25:1 ff especially 8:17 returned to original owners (The year of Jubilee [also spelled Jubile]
was determined by counting seven “weeks” of years; I.e. 49 years).

C. The Jews (Israelites) did not always keep the Lord’s Sabbaths Jer. 17:21-24. In fact, the Jews
found that they could not keep the Law of Moses perfectly. Consequently, they were condemned by
the Law (Rom. 7:7-13; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:23.) God knew that the Law of Moses which He gave would
reveal to man how incapable he is to live a perfectly sinless life; and, therefore, man would see how
desperately he needs a Savior -- he (man) being absolutely unable to save himself by perfect living.
The Apostle Peter put it this way as God inspired him to speak, Acts 15:10 Now then, why do you try
to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been
able to bear? (NIV) Yet, even today, there are those who attempt to bind the Mosaic Law upon
Christians by insisting upon keeping the Old Testament Sabbath Laws, as well as many other points
of the Law which have been taken out of the way by Christ (Col. 2:14 having canceled the written
code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; Rom 14. He comments
in verses 5-6 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day
alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does
so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains,
does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. (NIV) (More about these verses later.)

PROPOSITION:

Whatever they might do on other days during the week (take communion or not), Christians are to
meet about the Lord’s table to worship on the Lord’s day.

I. The Old Testament commandments concerning the Sabbath Day (Saturday) went out with all the
rest of the Law of Moses contained in Ordinances.

A. Clearly, Scripture does not require Saturday (Sabbath) observance of the Christian, Col 2:16 Let
no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of
the Sabbath days: (KJV)
B. This is underscored again in Rom. 14:5,6. A careful study of the Book of Romans throughout will
reveal that God is dealing with the problems caused by those who would try to force Gentile converts
to follow the Law of Moses. Paul by inspiration of God makes the point that we are not bound by the
Law of Moses and that there is no difference between the Jew and Gentile before God. Christian
liberty in non-essentials is clearly addressed here, but no mention is made of the first day of the
week (the Lord’s day) in the entire book and there is no reason to inject the Lord’s day into its pages.

(Brother Mantooth makes a special note in this section of attachments which we will scan at a later
date for your convenience as this was a very thorough study on the Lord‘s Day.. The are numbered 3,
5, 6, 7 & 11.)

II. Jesus, His Apostles and the early, first century, Christians set the example for us.

A. The Bible clearly emphasizes that Jesus’ Resurrection occurred on the first day of the week, Matt.
28; Mark 16; Luke 24 John 20.

B. Jesus met with the disciples on repeatedly consecutive Lord’s days (i.e. the first day of the week,
the day called “Sunday”), Luke 24:30-31 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took
bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew
him; and he vanished out of their sight. (KJV) Also, John 20:19-23; 26-29.

C. The Apostles led the early Christians to meet for communion on the first day of the week, Acts
2:42; 20:7. We must keep in mind that what the Apostles led the early Christians to do by example
and command is just as binding upon us as the things the Lord Jesus has, personally, directed us to
do by example and command. Consider Matt. 16:19; John 14:17,26; 20:22,23; Acts 1:8. For your
convenience I print here just one of the above-given passages; John 14:17,26 But the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (KJV)

D. It was the practice, of the first-century Christians, having been led by the Apostles to do so, to
meet on the first day of the week whether they lived in Jerusalem, Acts 2; Troas, Acts 20:7;
throughout Galatia or Corinth, 1 Corinthians 16:1,2

III. God Sent His Holy Spirit on the first day of the week (Pentecost) to bring His Church into
existence, Acts 2. (Study carefully Lev. 23:15,16 15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow
after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; SEVEN SABBATHS
SHALL BE COMPLETE: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty
days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. (KJV)

A. The apostles preached on the first day of the week, Acts 2:14

B. They baptized the first converts on the first day of the week, v.41

C. They had their teaching, fellowship, communion and prayers in Christ’s church on the first day of
the week, v.42

CONCLUSION:

So, since the Law is not binding upon us, since Jesus, His Apostles and the first-century Christians
(following apostolic instructions and example), since the Holy Spirit brought the church into
existence on the first day of the week -- Christ’s Resurrection Day and since God’s Word has
appointed a day as “The Lord’s Day” which is the first day of the week, we must conclude that God
has appointed the first day of the week, to be observed by coming together FOR THE PURPOSE OF
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD. Of course everything in this universe is the Lord’s, but there is
only one day of every week designated --not by tradition, not by me, not by the federal government --
BY GOD’S WORD, THE LORD’S DAY, Rev. 1:10.

Note: Brother Mantooth used the original Greek of the Stephen’s Text and attached the text to his
lesson along with other notes. He stresses to the student on this study to study his attachments of the
original language as it leaves no question as to “The Lord’s Day.”

This is Brother Mantooth’s note: (See all attachments especially the “Original Language Sheets.”) We
will provide the originals as scanned documents for you further study as soon as possible.)

by Brother James Mantooth

JLM Library