In this month's editorial with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are going to take a look at why should we keep Sundays holy? After all in our fast paced lives do we have time to make Sundays holy? What do we really mean by keeping Sundays holy anyway?
Well lets look at that last question, first. Keeping Sundays holy, means setting that day apart for God. Putting to one side work and the like so that we can focus on God. But we can spend time with God any day we like, at any time, so why devote one day, Sunday to Him? Well lets look at where we get the idea from.
Genesis 2v3: So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Exodus 20v8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
So here we see it was commanded by God to the Jews to keep the seventh day, Saturday, holy. God said that as He rested on the seventh day and made it holy so should the Jews. But we are no longer under law, but under grace. That is God no longer judges as according to the law, but we are saved by His grace in sending the Lord Jesus Christ to die for our sins. So does that mean we can do what we like?
Romans 6v15: What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
1 Corinthians 6v12: "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.
Just because we are under grace, doesn't mean we can carry on sinning. Paul goes on in Romans 6 to say how we should be obedient to God. The verse in Corinthians tells that while all things are lawful, not all things are helpful. For example, just because we are no longer under the law, does not mean we can go and murder someone, God's standards haven't changed, sin is still wrong, but He deals with us under grace as opposed to under law. The sabbath was created so that the Jews would spend a day focusing on God. Should we not also take a day out of our busy lives to spend it with God?
Luke 14v3: And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?"
For some, keeping every Sunday holy, is impossible because of their job. Now some jobs need doing and some don't, and it is up to you to decide whether your job needs doing. Some are clear-cut, for example we need nurses and doctors to work on Sundays, and they have clear Scriptural backing for this here in Luke 14v3.
Why Sunday and not Saturday?
Well in some ways there is no Scriptural reason for this. However, as we gather to remember the Lord on Sunday mornings, in remembrance of Him being raised from the dead on this day of the week, it makes sense, especially as most of our other church meetings are on this day as well. It also means we are starting the week as we mean to go on, spending time with God.
Romans 14v5-6: One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honour of the Lord.
At the end of the day, Paul is quite clear here in Romans 14 that it is your decision. In this editorial I have stated the reasons why I believe we as Christians should keep Sunday holy, but the final decision is yours before God.
Please send any questions or comments you have on this article to a.wood@assemblyyouth.net
All quotes are from the English Standard version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. |
I am's of Jesus Christ