¶630.1.2 The Lord’s Day
God makes clear in Scripture by both example and command that one day in seven is to be devoted to worship and rest (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11). Jesus declared that the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27). We need a special day in which we turn from our daily work to worship God and to renew body, mind, and spirit. The early church moved from observing the last day of the week – the Jewish Sabbath to worshipping God in Christ on the first day of the week – the Lord’s day, the day of His resurrection.
In keeping the Sabbath principle in a Lord’s day setting, we participate in corporate worship with the Christian community as the essential activity of Sunday (Hebrews 10:25). We refrain on that day from unnecessary labours and commerce, and recognize that salvation comes not from our own strivings but by grace, as we rest in God (Isaiah 58:13-14; Hebrews 4:9-10). Pastors and others who must be involved in necessary work on Sunday are encouraged to observe the Sabbath principle on another day.
