"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
The Sunday Keepers reasoning is this:
(1) Christ became "the head stone of the corner" by the act of rising from the grave
(2) He rose on Sunday.
(3) The statement, "This is the day which the Lord bath made," applies to a twenty-four-hour day, and the day referred to is Sunday.
(4) Therefore, "we will rejoice and be glad" on Sunday by keeping it as God's holy day.
But nowhere does the Bible say that Christ became the chief cornerstone by the act of rising from the dead.
In the New Testament, Christ is frequently referred to as “the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6) and as "the head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18), but these references do not narrow down to any one act of Christ's life, or to any moment of time, His acquiring of this title of headship.
The context of Colossians 1:18 would indicate that if any one act is focused upon, it is the death of Christ, which occurred on the sixth day of the week.
An examination of the verses that immediately precede and follow the passage under consideration reveals that the psalmist is treating the broad subject of salvation/ Verse 21 reads thus, “I will praise Thee: for Thou has heard me, and art become my salvation.” Verse 25 reads, “Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity.”
Compare with this the New Testament comment by Peter: "This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other." Acts 4:11-12.
The natural conclusion is that, “This is the day which the Lord
hath made” is referring to the day of salvation that would be ushered in by the Advent of our Lord as the Savior of men. The Bible frequently uses the word “day” to describe an indefinite period of time. For example, we read of the “day of the Lord,” the “day of judgment.” We know this covers very much more than a twenty-four-hour period.
Likewise, the Bible speaks of the “day of salvation.” In Isaiah's prophetic writings we read, “Thus says the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee.” Isa. 49:8.
Now let us view together the statement by the psalmist and the statement concerning Abraham, remembering that they both looked forward to the coming of the Messiah: “This is the day which the Lord bath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24. "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it and was glad." John 8:56.
The parallel is perfect. We need not search further to discover the meaning of the psalmist's words."
F.D. Nichols
The context of Colossians 1:18 would indicate that if any one act is focused upon, it is the death of Christ, which occurred on the sixth day of the week.
An examination of the verses that immediately precede and follow the passage under consideration reveals that the psalmist is treating the broad subject of salvation/ Verse 21 reads thus, “I will praise Thee: for Thou has heard me, and art become my salvation.” Verse 25 reads, “Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity.”
Compare with this the New Testament comment by Peter: "This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other." Acts 4:11-12.
The natural conclusion is that, “This is the day which the Lord
Likewise, the Bible speaks of the “day of salvation.” In Isaiah's prophetic writings we read, “Thus says the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee.” Isa. 49:8.
Now let us view together the statement by the psalmist and the statement concerning Abraham, remembering that they both looked forward to the coming of the Messiah: “This is the day which the Lord bath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24. "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it and was glad." John 8:56.
The parallel is perfect. We need not search further to discover the meaning of the psalmist's words."
F.D. Nichols
