THE BAPTIST FAITH AND MESSAGE, Article Eleven
This is Part 11 of a continuing series of articles examining the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. This statement of faith was adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting on June 14, 2000 “to set forth certain teachings which we believe.”
The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ*
Sunday has become a holiday instead of a holy day. I recall as a child (and I’m really not that old) that stores were not open on Sunday. Perhaps they still would not be if Christians didn’t shop there on the Lord’s Day. You might not think that is a big deal, but I do every time I invite someone to church and they answer, “I’d love to, but I’ve got to work.”
We are not trying to be legalistic here. Sunday is not the Sabbath Day (despite how many times you have heard someone refer to it that way). The Jewish Sabbath was Saturday—always has been—and Scripture hasn’t changed. So, if you want to mix law with grace (something Paul got quite hot about—see Galatians) then become a Seventh Day Adventist. The fact is that we are no longer under the law, but under grace. That means I can enjoy a ham sandwich and worship on Sunday, among other things.
But even though we are not under bondage to the precepts of the law, we are to submit to the principles of the Word. The day we worship corporately is not the crucial issue; but that we do set aside a day for rest from our work and devotion to the Lord is an unchangeable principle.
When the legalists of Christ’s day tried to put Him in a Sabbatical straightjacket, Christ taught that man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man. The principle established was for our benefit and not our burden.
The first Christians met every day for worship, including the Sabbath. Gradually, however, the first day of the week came to prominence for that was the day Christ emerged from the tomb, victorious over death, hell and the grave. That means Sunday is the Lord’s Day—a day of celebrating His resurrection and worshipping the risen Lord.
What should we do on Sunday? Only that which would honor the Lord! Come to think of it, that would be a good practice every day! See you at the Lord’s House this Lord’s Day!
* Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10. (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000)
This is Part 11 of a continuing series of articles examining the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. This statement of faith was adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting on June 14, 2000 “to set forth certain teachings which we believe.”
The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ*
Sunday has become a holiday instead of a holy day. I recall as a child (and I’m really not that old) that stores were not open on Sunday. Perhaps they still would not be if Christians didn’t shop there on the Lord’s Day. You might not think that is a big deal, but I do every time I invite someone to church and they answer, “I’d love to, but I’ve got to work.”
We are not trying to be legalistic here. Sunday is not the Sabbath Day (despite how many times you have heard someone refer to it that way). The Jewish Sabbath was Saturday—always has been—and Scripture hasn’t changed. So, if you want to mix law with grace (something Paul got quite hot about—see Galatians) then become a Seventh Day Adventist. The fact is that we are no longer under the law, but under grace. That means I can enjoy a ham sandwich and worship on Sunday, among other things.
But even though we are not under bondage to the precepts of the law, we are to submit to the principles of the Word. The day we worship corporately is not the crucial issue; but that we do set aside a day for rest from our work and devotion to the Lord is an unchangeable principle.
When the legalists of Christ’s day tried to put Him in a Sabbatical straightjacket, Christ taught that man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man. The principle established was for our benefit and not our burden.
The first Christians met every day for worship, including the Sabbath. Gradually, however, the first day of the week came to prominence for that was the day Christ emerged from the tomb, victorious over death, hell and the grave. That means Sunday is the Lord’s Day—a day of celebrating His resurrection and worshipping the risen Lord.
What should we do on Sunday? Only that which would honor the Lord! Come to think of it, that would be a good practice every day! See you at the Lord’s House this Lord’s Day!
* Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10. (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000)
4 comments:
Law and Grace must work together, for if we disobey God, then we must confess our sin and receive His forgiveness through the shed blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and that is God's grace. If there is no Law, then there is no disobedience or sin, therefore no need for the Saviour. We are under Grace, for then only can we truly receive the power to obey God's laws. Read our blog:
http://thegospelandgoodhealth.blogspot.com/
Wayne and Shelley,
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I was wondering how you found me? I would find nothing to disagree with concerning your comments. In looking at your blog, however, it would seem that you are coming from a Seventh Day Adventist viewpoint. Would that be correct? If so, it appears I might have several issues with your perspective. Just for the record, I am not an antinomian, but neither am I a legalist. The Galatian error, and it was a serious one, was an attempt to stress the law with keeping its sacred days and special diets as a part of salvation. I believe we are free under grace to eat hot dogs, but after reading your description of them, who would want to exercise that freedom? :)
I checked out your blog almost a week ago, but am just now getting a chance to leave a comment. Thanks for the kind words regarding my writing syle. I thought your blog was pretty interesting as well. I enjoy good theological discussion myself. Brad and I belong to a Free Will Baptist church, so the worst thing you could probably say about us is that we are Arminians. No repeat regeneration around here though! Only the slight chance of apostacy. How terrible to believe you could be repeatedly saved and lost on any given day. Anyway, thanks for stopping by my blog!
Hey Annie Beth--God forgives Arminians too! :) Even Armenians!
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