Recently a comment on the page sought an answer from the Ministry of Knightswood Free Church (Continuing), the question concerned the observance of the Lord’s Day as the Christian Sabbath as taught in Holy Scripture. It is assumed that the question was asked out of a genuine and humble desire to learn, rather than a guest taking advantage of this page to propagate a cause they hold to themselves, and as such it is important to give a thorough response.
Thankfully there are plenty of resources which are available on this subject some of which have been compiled together and can be read online thanks to the work of Mr Travis Fentiman of Reformed Books Online. You can access those resources here.
We have not posted the comment as we do not wish others to engage in argument, the church of Christ is here to engage with lost sinners about the Gospel of saving grace, not to engage in theological amusements. The question however came as follows “Please could you tell me when and where the Sabbath was changed from the seventh day (i.e. from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) to Sunday (the first day) in the Bible. Thank you.”
The answer to when: the day of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The answer to where is difficult to pin down – we would briefly answer “over the whole creation”, but perhaps by “where” is not meant a geographical location but a Scripture proof. We will assume the latter.
Our own Minister has addressed this subject when speaking on Question 59 in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, addressing the texts he says “In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve kept the seventh day as the Sabbath.” True enough. And the patriarchs and the manna and the law at Sinai all agree in this. But then see the New Testament, when the Women who love Christ, go to him on the First Day of the Week. Soon the Church will gather on the first day of the week, and offerings will be collected. Mention is made of the Lord’s Day when special things happen.
Elsewhere in a recent lecture, the Reverend William Macleod said this:
Change of day
From the creation till the death of Christ the Sabbath was the last day of the week. It was changed with the resurrection. The great work of creation was celebrated by the Old Testament Sabbath, but now a far greater work has been accomplished. Jesus work of redemption was much greater and more costly than the work of creation. It was completed on the first day of the week and to celebrate that the early church kept the Christian Sabbath on Sunday. They met for worship on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). You would expect that they would make their collections at the end of the week, when everyone got their wages, but Paul says specifically, ‘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’ (1Cor.16:1-2). John tells us that he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day (Rev.1:10). The day of Jesus’ resurrection was ever after called ‘the Lord’s day’ and to John it was a blessed day. The principle of one day in seven still holds but the day celebrated has changed. We worship Christ as our Creator, ‘All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made’ (John 1:3), but even more do we worship Him as our Redeemer ‘who love me and gave himself for me’ (Gal.2:20).
We trust that this information will be of help to all who are interested.
Services on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) which is the Christian Sabbath are held at Knightswood Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) at 11am and 6.30pm. The Church is located at 361 Fulton Street, Knightswood, G13 2SR. All are welcome.
Knightswood Free Church of Scotland (continuing) 