What Day Is The Lord’s Day?

I will begin by stating that each day is a gift of God.  “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psm. 118:24).  However, there is a certain day that has been given the designation “the Lord’s day”.  John wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet” (Rev. 1:10).  That particular statement begs the question, what day is “the Lord’s day”?

Some will attest that “the Lord’s day” is the same as the sabbath day.  There are problems with this theory.  First of all, the sabbath day for mankind was introduced to Israel as a part of the Law of Moses, specifically the Ten Commandments.  “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exo. 20:8).  The Law of Moses, including the Ten Commandments, was fulfilled by Jesus.  “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:  I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:17-18).  Paul indicated more than once that the Law of Moses is not the standard that should now be followed.  “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4).  Also, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:23-26).  Furthermore, Paul wrote of the removal of the Law of Moses when he declared, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  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:  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Col. 2:13-17).  Seeing as how the sabbath day was no longer to be observed, John would not have referenced it as “the Lord’s day”.

To come to the proper conclusion, we should examine some verses in the New Testament that help to identify “the Lord’s day”.  First, since it is called “the Lord’s day”, one would assume that it had to be a certain day that was important in the life of Jesus.  I would venture to say that there is no other day that holds the significance of the day of resurrection.  This is the day that Jesus triumphed!  Jesus had been able to rise victoriously over death, but what day was that?  “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre” (John 20:1).  The Lord rose from the grave on the first day of the week.

Also, the first day of the week has significant importance to the church of Christ.  This is the day when the church assembles together to worship God.  The Lord’s Supper is to be observed on the first day of the week.  “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7).  It should not seem strange that the church would “show the Lord’s death till he come” on the day of His victory (1 Cor. 11:26).  Also, the church is to give of their means on the first day of the week.  “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

So, after one understands the aforementioned verses, it should be easier to identify “the Lord’s day”.  Each first day of the week we are privileged to assemble with our brethren.  We then have the privilege of worshiping God on the day that He has prescribed, the day of His victory!
~ Corey Barnette