The Lord's Day

The Significance of the Lord's Day

Confessional Text

The first day of the week is the Lord's Day¹³³. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both in the public gathering with the local church, and in the believer's private affairs.

Scriptural References

[133]

Revelation 1:10

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.

1 Corinthians 16:2

On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

John 20:1

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

Acts 20:7

Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

All scripture quotations are from the ESV (English Standard Version).

Historical & Theological Background

Early Christians moved their day of worship from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, the Lord's Day, commemorating Christ's resurrection. This is not a strict Sabbath observance (which was part of the Old Covenant), but a celebration of Christ's victory over death. The Lord's Day is for corporate worship, rest, and spiritual refreshment. It is a weekly reminder of the resurrection and a foretaste of eternal rest.

African Contextual Commentary

In African contexts, Sunday worship is often routine without understanding its significance, or it becomes a legalistic burden with endless rules. This statement clarifies that Sunday is the Lord's Day, set apart to commemorate Christ's resurrection. It is primarily for worship—both public (gathering with the church) and private (personal devotions). African Christians should prioritize gathering with their local church on Sunday, not allowing work, entertainment, or other activities to replace worship. However, this is not Old Testament Sabbatarianism—it is joyful celebration of Christ's victory, not burdensome legalism.