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Determining the Correct Day for Worship in Christianity

In Christianity, the concept of a specific day for worship has evolved from Old Testament practices to the New Testament emphasis on the Lord's Day. The Old Testament law prescribed various holy days and feasts, with the Sabbath being a prominent weekly observance.

The Old Testament outlines several significant days for worship and rest. The Day of Atonement, for instance, was an annual day of humiliation and expiation for the nation's sins, observed on the tenth day of the seventh month, lasting from sunset to sunset [3, 7]. This was the only fast commanded in the Law of Moses [3]. Other feasts included the Feast of Harvest (Pentecost), also called the day of the firstfruits, which occurred fifty days after the Passover [4, 6]. Numbers 29:12 also mentions a holy convocation on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, requiring no regular work for seven days [1]. The prophet Hosea refers to a "day of worship" and a "day of the feast of the Lord," indicating established times for religious observance [2]. The concept of a "day" in the Old Testament could refer to a natural day from evening to evening, or prophetically, to a year [5].

Under the Old Covenant, the Sabbath was a central day of rest and worship. However, the New Testament introduces a shift in understanding regarding such observances. Paul, in Galatians 4:10, cautions against regarding the observance of certain days as inherently meritorious, contrasting this with the free spirit of Christianity [13]. While this does not negate the importance of observing the Sabbath or the Christian Lord's Day, it reframes their purpose from a work-based merit to a holy means appointed by God for holiness [13]. Similarly, Romans 14:5 notes that some consider one day more holy than another, while others view all days as alike, likely referencing Jewish festival days and the Sabbath [15]. With Christ's salvation, the original form of Sabbath observance is not required for Christians [15].

The early Christian community began to gather for worship on "the Lord's Day," which commemorated Jesus' resurrection [16]. While early Christians initially worshipped in Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath (the last day of the week), they eventually gathered on the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection [16]. This shift is evident by the time the book of Revelation was written, where "the Lord's Day" is used to refer to this weekly worship [16]. John Gill, commenting on Isaiah 58:13, interprets the "sabbath" in that passage as referring to the time of worship under the Gospel dispensation, whose proper name is the Lord's Day [14].

The nature of worship itself also underwent a transformation. Jesus taught that true worship occurs "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). This means that worship is not tied to a specific physical location or a rigid set of external rituals, but rather involves God's Spirit revealing God's truth to the worshiper [10]. This spiritual worship is a result of a believer's new nature, where God's Spirit expresses life within them, a transforming work that is part of salvation [9]. This aligns with the idea that sacrifices offered in the right spirit come from a heart that is right with God and others [8]. The emphasis is on an internal disposition of the heart, seeking God unanimously and with a new spirit [11]. Christians are called to hold to the truth in love, growing into Christ [12].

Sources

  1. Numbers ““‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days. -- Numbers 29:12”
  2. Hosea “Hosea 9:5 (BBE) — What will you do on the day of worship, and on the day of the feast of the Lord?”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Atonement, Day of — The great annual day of humiliation and expiation for the sins of the nation, "the fast" (Acts 27:9), and the only one commanded in the law of Moses. The mode of its observance is described in Lev. 16:3-10; 23:26-32; and Num. 29:7-11. It was kept on the tenth day of the month Tisri, i.e., five days before the feast of Tabernacles, and lasted from sunset to sunset. (See [41]AZAZEL.)”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pentecost — I.e., "fiftieth", found only in the New Testament (Acts 2:1; 20:16; 1 Cor. 16:8). The festival so named is first spoken of in Ex. 23:16 as "the feast of harvest," and again in Ex. 34:22 as "the day of the firstfruits" (Num. 28:26). From the sixteenth of the month of Nisan (the second day of the Passover), seven complete weeks, i.e., forty-nine days, were to be reckoned, and this feast was held on the fiftieth day. The manner in which it was to be kept is described in Lev. 23:15-19; Num. 28:27-29. Besides the sacrifices prescribed for the occasion, every o”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Day — The light first called -- Ge 1:5. Natural, from evening to evening -- Ge 1:5; Le 23:32. Artificial, the time of the sun's continuance above the horizon -- Ge 31:39,40; Ne 4:21,22. Prophetical, a year -- Eze 4:6; Da 12:12. Artificial, divided into Break of. -- Ge 32:24,26; Song 2:17. Morning. -- Ex 29:39; 2Sa 23:4. Noon. -- Ge 43:16; Ps 55:17. Decline of. -- Jdj 19:8,9; Lu 9:12; 24:29. Evening. -- Ge 8:11; Ps 104:23; Jer 6:4. Sometimes divided into four parts -- Ne 9:3. Later subdivided into twelve hours -- Mt 20:3,5,6; Joh 11:9. Time of, ascertained by the dial”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Pentecost — that is, the fiftieth day (from a Greek word meaning fiftieth), or Harvest Feast, or Feast of Weeks, may be regarded as a supplement to the Passover. It lasted for but one day. From the sixteenth of Nisan seven weeks were reckoned inclusively, and the next or fiftieth day was the day of Pentecost, which fell on the sixth of Sivan (about the end of May). (Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:15,22; Numbers 28) See Jewish calendar at the end of this volume. The Pentecost was the Jewish harvest-home, and the people were especially exhorted to rejoice before Jeho”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Atonement, the Day Of — Tenth day of seventh month -- Le 23:26,27. A day of humiliation -- Le 16:29,31; 23:27. Observed as a sabbath -- Le 23:28,32. Offerings to be made on -- Le 16:3,5-15. The high priest entered into the holy place on -- Le 16:2,3; Heb 9:7. Atonement made on For the holy place. -- Ex 30:10; Le 16:15,16. For the high priest. -- Le 16:11; Heb 9:7. For the whole congregation. -- Le 16:17,24; 23:28; Heb 9:7. The sins of the people borne off by the scapegoat on -- Le 16:21. Punishment for not observing -- Le 23:29,30. Year of Jubilee commenced on -- Le ”
  8. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 51:19: 51:19 Sacrifices offered in the right spirit come from a heart that is right with God and with others (see 15:2-5; 24:3-6; 50:14; Matt 5:23-24).”
  9. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  10. John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 4:24: 4:24 in spirit and in truth: One Greek preposition governs both words (literally in spirit and truth) and makes them a single concept. True worship occurs as God’s Spirit reveals God’s truth and reality to the worshiper. Jesus Christ is the Truth (14:6; cp. 14:17; 15:26).”
  11. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 11:19: I will give them--lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in Eze 11:18, God declares it is to be the free gift of His Spirit. one heart--not singleness, that is, uprightness, but oneness of heart in all, unanimously seeking Him in contrast to their state at that time, when only single scattered individuals sought God (Jer 32:39; Zep 3:9) [HENGSTENBERG]. Or, "content with one God," not distracted with "the many detestable things" (Eze 11:18; Kg1 18:21; Hos 10:2) [CALVIN]. new spirit-- (Psa 51:10; Jer 31:33). Realized fully in th”
  12. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:15: speaking the truth--Translate, "holding the truth"; "following the truth"; opposed to "error" or "deceit" (Eph 4:14). in love--"Truth" is never to be sacrificed to so-called "charity"; yet it is to be maintained in charity. Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit, are the Christian's rule (compare Eph 4:21, Eph 4:24). grow up--from the state of "children" to that of "full-grown men." There is growth only in the spiritually alive, not in the dead. into him--so as to be more and more incorporated with Him, and become one with Him. the”
  13. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 4:10: To regard the observance of certain days as in itself meritorious as a work, is alien to the free spirit of Christianity. This is not incompatible with observing the Sabbath or the Christian Lord's day as obligatory, though not as a work (which was the Jewish and Gentile error in the observance of days), but as a holy mean appointed by the Lord for attaining the great end, holiness. The whole life alike belongs to the Lord in the Gospel view, just as the whole world, and not the Jews only, belong to Him. But as in Paradise, so now one portion of tim”
  14. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 58:13: If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath,.... From walking and working on that day; or withdrawest thy mind and affections from all worldly things; the affections being that to the mind as the feet are to the body, which carry it here and there. The time of worship, under the Gospel dispensation, is here expressed in Old Testament language, as the service of it usually is in prophetic writings; though its proper name is the Lord's day, Rev 1:10, and is here instanced in, and put for all religious institutions and services to be attended unto, and which will be wit”
  15. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 14:5: 14:5 some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike: The reference is probably to Jewish festival days and to the Sabbath; cp. Col 2:16. With Christ’s provision of salvation, observance of the Sabbath in its original form is not required of Christians.”
  16. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:10: 1:10 the Lord’s Day: This designation was used in the Roman world to refer to celebrations in honor of Caesar, but Christians used it to refer to their weekly worship, celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. The earliest Christians worshiped in Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath, the last day of the week (Acts 18:4), but by the time of Revelation, they were excluded from synagogues and gathered on the day that commemorated the resurrection, the first day of the week (see study note on Luke 24:1; see also Acts 20:7). • The loud voice like a trumpet blast was an announce”
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