Early Christianity came to refer to Sunday as the “eighth day of the week.” They were referring to the resurrection of Christ. Sunday was the first day of the week. God had completed creation on the sixth day and rested on the seventh. When Christ arose, it was not just the beginning of another week. It was the beginning of a whole new creation. In the resurrection God began a new created order. Those who die to sin and are baptized into Christ become part of this new creation; the old is passing away, all things are new.
Sunday was also the new day of rest. The appearances of Christ between the resurrection and the ascension were on Sundays, making it forever “the Lord’s Day.” These appearances climaxed on a mountain in Galilee and the ascension of Christ into the heavens where he is enthroned at the right hand of the Father. It was on a Sunday he entered into His eternal rest, Sabbath in the presence of the Almighty. Those who enter into Christ enter into His rest, His Sabbath.
In the resurrection the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world prepared Himself, as the true High Priest, to be presented to the Father and thereby making a way for us to come into His throne room without fear of rejection. Through the resurrection we enter into our eternal Sabbath, love, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. Our rest is to worship God in His presence knowing we are not only accepted by Him but also fully joined to Him. By the resurrection we know as we are known.
Cleveland, Tennessee
April 4, 2010
JDJ
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