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LCMS > FAQs > Worship/Congregational Life > Worship Life > Worship on Sunday
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Worship on Sunday

 

Q. I need to know where I can find proof that Christ wishes us to worship on Sunday. Through the whole Bible it does not say we have a choice about changing the day of worship. Jesus kept the Sabbath and so did all the apostles.

A. I would encourage you, first of all, to read or review questions 35-40 (on the third commandment) in Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation, which explains that according to the New Testament the Sabbath was a sign pointing to Jesus, who is our rest. Since Jesus has come as our Savior and Lord, God no longer requires us to observe any one particular day for worship (whether Saturday, Sunday, or some other day; see Col. 2:16-17; Rom. 14:5-6; Gal. 4:10-11). Scripture does, of course, stress the importance of corporate worship (Acts 2:42, 46; Heb. 10:25), and the first Christians chose Sunday as their regular day of worship because it was the day on which Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:1-2; Acts 20:7).

With very few exceptions (e.g., the Seventh Day Adventist Church), the entire Christian church (not just the Lutheran church) has continued this tradition of worshipping on Sunday, recognizing that worshipping on Sunday (or any other specific day) is not required by God, but that it is helpful for the sake of good order and in remembrance of Christ's resurrection.

Those who insist that Christians must worship on one particular day of the week are in danger doing what God commands us not to do in Col. 2:16-17 and Rom. 14:5-6: judging other Christians in an area where God has given Christian freedom.

You may also want to read Luther's discussion of the third commandment in the Large Catechism.


 

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