Is it difficult to accept that the God-appointed day of public worship has been changed from the seventh day to the first day of the week? Consider these Scriptural parallels. When God delivered Israel out of the bondage of Egypt in the Exodus, this was Israel’s redemption. It typified the greater redemption to be accomplished by Jesus Christ. Two memorials were observed in Israel in honor of this redemption: the Sabbath and the Passover (Exodus 12:13-14; Deuteronomy 5:15). Besides being a sign of creation, the Sabbath became a sign of redemption, its rest typifying the deliverance of Israel from slavery.
The New Testament presents the work of Christ as a greater deliverance, a new exodus, and a perfect redemption which sets believers free from the bondage of sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15; 4:8-11). But again, two memorials are appointed of this redemption by the Redeemer Himself: the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20) and the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10). (The exact Greek word translated “Lord’s” in these verses occurs in only these two places in the New Testament). No longer do Christians celebrate the Passover and the Sabbath. Now, in commemoration of a greater salvation, they observe the Lord’s Supper and the Lord’s Day.
How eloquently this speaks of the fact that the Lord’s Day is patterned on the Sabbath and, like the Sabbath, should be kept holy. Just as Israel’s observance of the Sabbath and Passover indicated their esteem for their God, so also our reverence for the Lord’s Supper and the Lord’s Day measures our love for the Savior. And if that be true, what does it say about the condition of today’s church? Christian friend, what does it say about you? Have you left your first love? God help us to remember from where we have fallen, and repent and do the first works (see Revelation 2:4-5).
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