Why we should worship on Sunday!!!!!

[barnz]

Well, at least this is what some people have told me...

Quote:

The first day of the week is the Lord's day. It is the only day in the week which can properly be called the "Lord's day." When one remembers some of the important things which transpired on that day, he can see why the day came to be called the "Lord's day." On the first day of the week, Jesus arose from the dead (Mk. 16:1-9). On that day, he appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9); to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35); to the apostles with Thomas absent (Jn. 20:19-25); to the apostles with Thomas present (Jn. 20:26-29); etc. Inasmuch as Pentecost always fell on the first day of the week (Lev. 23:15), these important events with reference to the early church occurred on the first day of the week: the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), the first gospel sermon and the obedience of three thousand whom the Lord added to the church. Hence, the first day of the week was an important day for the early church.

The early church met habitually on the first day of the week to worship the Lord.

That this assembly occurred on the first day of the week is evident from the Scriptures as well. In 1 Cor. 16:1-2, Paul wrote, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come." Notice several things from this verse. The instructions were given to a number of churches; these were not limited to Corinth. The instructions enjoined were to be observed on the first day of every week. Too, the instructions are not "come together to give" but "give while you are come together." Hence, this passage is conclusive evidence that the early church worshiped on Sunday, the first day of the week, which day came to be known as the Lord's day.

Furthermore, Acts 20:7 shows that the early church worshiped regularly on the first day of the week. Paul was on his way to Jerusalem on an urgent trip to take funds gathered for benevolent purposes for the saints in Jerusalem. However, he wanted to worship with the saints at Troas. Apparently, he arrived on Monday for he tarried seven days (Acts 20:6) to await the assembling of the saints. The Scriptures say, "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight." Notice, that Paul expected the church to assemble on the first day of the week and, for that reason, waited seven days to meet with them. Too, the early church usually met on that day to "break bread," to observe the Lord's supper.

Therefore, when we read that John was in the Spirit on the "Lord's day," we should properly understand that this was the first day of the week, the day set aside to worship and adore God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Scriptural evidence is quite clear that the early church worshiped on the first day of the week. The change in the days of worship from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week occurred by divine decree.

[ClubV12]

Thank God we have a prophet to guide in the correct interpretation of scripture, Sister White.

[Gail]

When one reads the 10 Commandments, one gets the picture of how God views which day He commands us to rest on.

In our city we had a referendum once on Sunday shopping. I am not one to vote (sorry!) but I did vote on that issue.

In the papers leading up to voting day, there was a big debate. I stopped following it when a representative of the local Ministerial Assn came right out and said that the reason why people worship on Sunday is because of tradition- man's tradition.

It's that simple, really. To me, there are other more difficult theological questions that can be debated.

[barnz]

So what about the verses brought up in the quote, what do you say when people bring up scriptural evidence that they believe seems to support Sunday worship.

[Gail]

Jesus rose from the grave- yes- and I celebrate that, too! But it did not negate the 10 Commandments. Jesus said He did not come to destroy but to fulfil. He kept the seventh-day Sabbath Himself. Neither did He command that the rest day should transfer over on account of that.

It is human tradition. Those who are learned will admit that.

In another thread we see Andy Stanley talking about resting one day in seven. That is a start- and I'm hoping that as time passes he will go all the way and accept the 4th commandment as it is stated.

Some versions actually read, Sunday, for "first day of the week". Note that Jesus rested in the grave over the Sabbath.

[joeb]

Study the context of the verses given to "support" Sunday as a holy day as a replacement for the 7th day of the week. You will see none of them actually support what they are purported to support.

Remember also, all the disciples and apostles observed the Jewish day which runs from sundown to sundown, not from midnight to midnight. So Sabbath for a Jew, as for an SDA, runs from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. The first day of the week, in that context, begins at sundown on Saturday night.

To really understand this and be able to show this to others you must know it for yourself. Someone else giving you answers they have found for themselves will not do. Be like the Bereans and study to see what is true for yourself so that you can comfortably show others the truth.

[Gail]

I would have no problem worshipping on any day of the week. Or collecting money for helping others.

But the idea of the Sabbath is more than that. It is a memorial of Creation. It is entering into the rest that God did on the first 7th day. It is celebrating the freedom of the Exodus, too (for us, freedom from the chains of sin and atheism). It is resting so that God can provide for us, as He did with the manna.

We are told that in the last days the disasters of the world will be blamed on those who are not keeping the commandments of God. But it will be those who are REALLY not keeping God's commandments who are trespassing God's way.

I believe that the issue is being brought before people's eyes currently so that everyone will make their decision on it before Jesus comes. Enough information will be given that people can make an intelligent decision. We knew that it would, as we are blessed with that information beforehand.

[Gail]

alexamasan, people are led to keep the seventh-day Sabbath out of conviction. Pastors bring whole congregations to keep it out of conviction.

Do not fret about proof-texting it. I agree with joeb that those texts don't support Sunday sacredness upon deeper reflection. As the minister I talked about in my earlier post admitted, it is a observance based on human tradition, not the 10 Commandments.

But you can see how it will become a BIG issue within the religious community just before Jesus comes.

Don't take our word for it! You can come before God and study it out for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and follow His leading.

[joeb]

alexmason,

Gail is absolutely correct to tell you to ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your study. I was remiss in leaving that out of my posts to you. Without Him we can neither find truth nor have the power to lead others to the truth.

[John317]

Well, at least this is what some people have told me...

"The first day of the week is the Lord's day. It is the only day in the week which can properly be called the 'Lord's day.'

The only day that the Bible calls the Lord's Day is the seventh-day Sabbath. It is the only day that God has blessed and made holy.

Isaiah 58:13

"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,

from doing your pleasure on my holy day,

and call the Sabbath a delight

and the holy day of the Lord honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly..."

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

When one remembers some of the important things which transpired on that day, he can see why the day came to be called the "Lord's day."

A day can't become the Lord's day simply because certain events occurred on a particular day. The only legitimate reason to call any day the Lord's day is that the Lord calls it His holy day.

The fact is that the Bible says there are six days for work and one day for rest and worship. That day is the Sabbath. The first day is one of the six working days.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

On the first day of the week, Jesus arose from the dead (Mk. 16:1-9).

Since Jesus died on Friday and was to be raised the third day, the only day on which Christ could possibly be resurrected was the first day of the week. He couldn't very well have been resurrected on the Sabbath, Friday or Monday. He was limited as to the day on which He must be raised from the dead. The first day was the only option. But it seems to me more meaningful that Jesus, the Creator of the universe, rested on the seventh-day Sabbath. He thus rested on the seventh-day after completing the creation of the world and after completing His work on the cross to save the world.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

On that day, he appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9);

The reason Christ appeared to her on this day was that it was immediately after Jesus was raised from the dead, and as we have shown, it was necessary that He be raised on the first day of the week since he died on Friday.

The simple fact that Jesus appeared to someone after his resurrection does not qualify the day on which it happened as a holy day.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

[Jesus appeared] to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35); to the apostles with Thomas absent (Jn. 20:19-25); to the apostles with Thomas present (Jn. 20:26-29); etc.

But notice that on each of these occasions, the disciples were not gathered together for any religious service. On the contrary the disciples didn't even yet believe that Christ had been raised. Their doors were shut because they were afraid of the Jews. It is obvious that the reason Jesus appeared to the disciples when Thomas was present was that Jesus had a special surprise for Thomas.

Notice that there is no mention whatsoever in any of the Gospels that the first day became the Lord's day because of any of those events.

Originally Posted By: Alexamasan

Inasmuch as Pentecost always fell on the first day of the week (Lev. 23:15), these important events with reference to the early church occurred on the first day of the week: the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), the first gospel sermon and the obedience of three thousand whom the Lord added to the church. Hence, the first day of the week was an important day for the early church.

No matter how many things happen on a particular day of the week, there is no biblical justification for humans to think they can make Sunday the Lord's day in place of the Sabbath.

That would like Adam and Eve deciding to change the tree from which they could not eat. Humans never had the authority to change the Lord's day.

Question:

When did the first day become "the Lord's day"? Did it become the Lord's day after Christ's resurrection or before the resurrection?

[nuff sed]

It NEVER became "The Lord's Day".....Man just said that it did...."in his opinion"... Nuff Sed

[John317]

The early church met habitually on the first day of the week to worship the Lord.

Actually there are only 8 references to the first day of the week in the entire NT. None of those references call it anything except the "first day of the week," and none of those show that it was a special day of worship. On the contrary, Acts 20 shows that the first day was treated as a common work-day. It was the day Paul started on his travels, which he wouldn't have done if it was the new day of worship and rest. See Acts 20: 7,11.

Compare how the NT treats the Sabbath in contrast to the way it treats the first day of the week.

What are Paul and the other apostles always found doing on the true Lord's day, the Sabbath? See, for instance, Acts 13: 42, 44; 16: 13, etc.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

That this assembly occurred on the first day of the week is evident from the Scriptures as well. In 1 Cor. 16:1-2, Paul wrote, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come."

Notice there's no mention of a meeting. Notice also it is called simply "the first day of the week," not the Lord's day.

Thirdly, notice that it says each person must put something aside and save it up. The literal Greek is translated "each of you by himself [at home] set something aside storing up..." (See The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament, edited by Robert Brown and Philip Comfort.)

Richard Weymouth's translation reads, "On the first day of every week let each of you put on one side and store up AT HIS HOME..."

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

Notice several things from this verse. The instructions were given to a number of churches; these were not limited to Corinth. The instructions enjoined were to be observed on the first day of every week.

All true, and this is all the more significant since they were told to save up their gifts on the first day and not on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was considered too sacred for common business matters such as going over one's finances. Therefore they were instructed to do it on what we call Saturday night. See the Complete Jewish Bible at 1 Cor. 16: 2.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

Too, the instructions are not "come together to give" but "give while you are come together."

There's no mention whatsoever of a meeting or of "when you are come together." On the contrary, Paul's instructions are for "each of you...", that is, individually.

Paul's directions were given in order to avoid the confusion of people deciding at the last minute what they would give as an offering. It was to be planned.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

Hence, this passage is conclusive evidence that the early church worshiped on Sunday, the first day of the week, which day came to be known as the Lord's day.

Actually, as said before, this verse shows that they were not to consider their business matters on the Sabbath but were to wait until the sun went down on Sabbath evening before they would go over their finances.

[John317]

Furthermore, Acts 20:7 shows that the early church worshiped regularly on the first day of the week.

If it was something they did regularly, why is this the only mention of such a meeting on the first day of the week?

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

Paul was on his way to Jerusalem on an urgent trip to take funds gathered for benevolent purposes for the saints in Jerusalem. However, he wanted to worship with the saints at Troas. Apparently, he arrived on Monday for he tarried seven days (Acts 20:6) to await the assembling of the saints.

Paul worshipped with the saints that Sabbath. Then, because he was planning on leaving early the next day, Paul met with the church after the sun went down on Sabbath evening. Acts 20: 8 says that there were many lamps in the room. Why? Because it was night. That means it was Saturday evening. See the New English Bible and the Revised English Bible.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

The Scriptures say, "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight." Notice, that Paul expected the church to assemble on the first day of the week and, for that reason, waited seven days to meet with them.

The passage doesn't say that Paul waited seven days in order to meet with them on "the first day of the week." It says that Paul met with them late at night because he was planning to leave early the next morning. What morning was that? It was the morning of the first day, Sunday. Paul was set to travel on that day, something he wouldn't have done if he considered it "the Lord's day."

This incident in Acts 20 is recorded for one major reason, and that is the death and raising up of Eutychus.

Question:

If Paul was preaching that the Sabbath was changed or done away with and that the new "Lord's day" was the first day of the week, why don't we hear anything about the Jews accusing Paul of breaking the Sabbath? If Paul was breaking the Sabbath and teaching other to do the same, how could Paul have honestly said what he did in Acts 27: 17, that he had never done anything against the customs of the fathers? Notice that Paul also says in Acts 26: 22 that he had said nothing except that which is found in the prophets and in Moses. He could not possibly have said this honestly if he was teaching people that the Sabbath was no longer binding and that the new day of worship was Sunday.

Sabbath-breaking was a criminal offense worthy of the death sentence among the Jews of Paul's day, yet when it was time to charge Paul with crimes, the Jews did not suggest that Paul was breaking the Sabbath. They certainly would have done so if there was any evidence that Paul was breaking the Sabbath and teaching others to break it also.

Originally Posted By: alexamasan

Too, the early church usually met on that day to "break bread," to observe the Lord's supper.

Yet Acts 20:7 is the only such meeting recorded in the NT and it specifically says the reason it was held at that time was that Paul planned to leave early the next morning on a journey. This clearly is not something Paul would have done if he viewed Sunday as the Lord's day. He traveled on it because he didn't plan to have a worship service on that day but instead planned to use it like any other ordinary day.

Also, Acts 2: 42, 46 says that the believers broke bread "daily" or "day by day." They "broke bread from house to house."

Acts 2:42,46

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ...[46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their food with gladness and singleness of heart.

[12tribes]

Thank God we have a prophet to guide in the correct interpretation of scripture, Sister White.

[John317]

Thank God we have a prophet to guide in the correct interpretation of scripture, Sister White.

Originally Posted By: 12tribes

I agree, but the Bible is so clear on this topic that many people understood Bible truth regarding the Sabbath long before Ellen White was chosen as God's messenger to the Remnant. All of the Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church are supported by the testimony of Scripture.

[BobRyan]

Well, at least this is what some people have told me...

Quote:

The first day of the week is the Lord's day. It is the only day in the week which can properly be called the "Lord's day." When one remembers some of the important things which transpired on that day, he can see why the day came to be called the "Lord's day." On the first day of the week, Jesus arose from the dead (Mk. 16:1-9). On that day, he appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9); to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35); to the apostles with Thomas absent (Jn. 20:19-25); to the apostles with Thomas present (Jn. 20:26-29); etc. Inasmuch as Pentecost always fell on the first day of the week (Lev. 23:15), these important events with reference to the early church occurred on the first day of the week: the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), the first gospel sermon and the obedience of three thousand whom the Lord added to the church. Hence, the first day of the week was an important day for the early church.

It is easy to see how man-made tradition would have eventually evolved to favor what the Bible only calls "week day one" in the NT.

Notice that when clear unambiguous reference is needed for Sunday in the NT - it is always "week day one". See 1Cor 16.

There are NO "week day one after week day one" meetings recording in all of the NT.

But in Acts 13 we DO have "Sabbath after Sabbath" services for worship and Bible study and in Isaiah 66 we have "From Sabbath to Sabbath .. shall ALL MANKIND come before Me to worship".

Quote:

That this assembly occurred on the first day of the week is evident from the Scriptures as well. In 1 Cor. 16:1-2, Paul wrote, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come." Notice several things from this verse. The instructions were given to a number of churches; these were not limited to Corinth. The instructions enjoined were to be observed on the first day of every week. Too, the instructions are not "come together to give" but "give while you are come together."

There is NO "Give while you are come together on the first day of the week" language in 1Cor 16.

How nice it would be for our Sunday keeping friends IF even one such text had included such a thing!

Sadly - we can understand how it is that they desperately need to imagine such a text.

Quote:

Hence, this passage is conclusive evidence that the early church worshiped on Sunday, the first day of the week, which day came to be known as the Lord's day.

On the contrary - given that it is a clear case of a reference to Sunday and yet does NOT assign Sunday the term "Lord's Day" as compared to the Bible explicitly assigning a name of honor to the 7th day "The Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord Thy God" - it is an instructive moment. 1Cor 16 gives no title of honor at all -- only "week day 1".

Further 1Cor 16 does not say "come together for worship on week day one" - and yet in the language quote in the comment above this was the VERY place to state it - how instructive the absence of such a statement in the text!!

Quote:

Furthermore, Acts 20:7 shows that the early church worshiped regularly on the first day of the week. Paul was on his way to Jerusalem on an urgent trip to take funds gathered for benevolent purposes for the saints in Jerusalem. However, he wanted to worship with the saints at Troas. Apparently, he arrived on Monday for he tarried seven days (Acts 20:6) to await the assembling of the saints. The Scriptures say, "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight." Notice, that Paul expected the church to assemble on the first day of the week and, for that reason, waited seven days to meet with them.

There is no "waited seven days to meet with them" in Acts 20:6.

In fact it is devastating to the Sunday keeping point that in Acts 20:6 they WAIT (and are not traveling) BECAUSE of the "days of Unleavened Bread"!!

There is more respect shown for the OT annual Feast days in Acts 20 - as a day for one NOT to travel than there is for "week day one" a day where travel was clearly being done - IF the midnight meeting held by Paul is to be considered a "week day 1" meeting.

And once again - there is no "the church usually met on week day 1" statement at all in Acts 20!!

In fact when "giving a reason" for the week-day-1 meeting - the text says it is Paul's farewell sermon - rather than saying "because we always meet on week day 1 calling it the Lord's Day".

How odd that this second golden opportunity to unambiguously introduce "Week day 1" as something other than "week day 1" is missed by NT authors.

That must be soooo frustrating for our Sunday keeping friends!

Quote:

Therefore, when we read that John was in the Spirit on the "Lord's day," we should properly understand that this was the first day of the week, the day set aside to worship and adore God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Again the comment above highlights the VERY DETAILs NOT present in the text!

If we use the Bible as our guide to understand what is meant by "Lord's Day" in Rev 1 (which is the only place it is found in the NT) then we have Mark 1:28 "The Son of Man is LORD of the Sabbath" and in the OT we have Is 58 where the "Sabbath is the Holy Day of the Lord".

But if man-made-tradition is to be our guide instead - then other options do come to mind.

in Christ,

Bob

[BobRyan]

It is very interesting that EVEN the RCC admits that before the RCC changed the day - the term "Lord's Day" meant "Seventh-day Sabbath- Saturday".

in Christ,

Bob

[phkrause]

It is very interesting that EVEN the RCC admits that before the RCC changed the day - the term "Lord's Day" meant "Seventh-day Sabbath- Saturday".

in Christ,

Bob

[12tribes]

Originally Posted By: ClubV12

Thank God we have a prophet to guide in the correct interpretation of scripture, Sister White.

Originally Posted By: 12tribes

I agree, but the Bible is so clear on this topic that many people understood Bible truth regarding the Sabbath long before Ellen White was chosen as God's messenger to the Remnant. All of the Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church are supported by the testimony of Scripture.

That is true it is clear, people like to explain away the scriptures so they don't have to accept the Sabbath. I do not know why you can mention any commandment but, as soon as the sabbath is mentioned people become defensive.

[Lysimachus]

Tell it like it is. It's almost as if there is this mysterious hatred toward the Sabbath that irritates people. It's like it must keep bothering their conscience our something, so they keep bringing up topics to try and see if they can rationalize their way out of keeping it.

I'm so thankful God has given us the Sabbath. It is a day to commune with God. It is a day we meet with God because His presence is in the Sabbath. It is a day He "sanctified" and "blessed". It is "holy" time. Every second is sacred time that He sanctified.

To meet God on His Sabbath is to keep the date. It is the birthday of the world. Do we celebrate our mother's birthday which is in July by wishing her happy birthday in February? Would it be very meaningful to her? I don't think so. The same it is with God. God does not appreciate when we try to celebrate sanctified time on a day that He has not sanctified.

I'm not sure what kind of dynamite has to go off to get this through your thick skulls.

[Lysimachus]

Concerning Acts 20, it is also interesting to note that the meeting took place on Saturday night. Several Bible translations render it as such, and upon looking at the Greek myself, it surely seems to indicate that.

Some may argue "Saturday night or not, it was still Sunday that they gathered!"

Wait a minute, don't Sunday keepers keep Sunday in honor of the resurrection?

But wasn't Jesus resurrected early Sunday morning? Why are they celebrating Sunday in honor of the resurrection when they are actually meeting at a time when He is still dead in the grave?? O.O

[12tribes]

Tell it like it is. It's almost as if there is this mysterious hatred toward the Sabbath that irritates people. It's like it must keep bothering their conscience our something, so they keep bringing up topics to try and see if they can rationalize their way out of keeping it.

I'm so thankful God has given us the Sabbath. It is a day to commune with God. It is a day we meet with God because His presence is in the Sabbath. It is a day He "sanctified" and "blessed". It is "holy" time. Every second is sacred time that He sanctified.

To meet God on His Sabbath is to keep the date. It is the birthday of the world. Do we celebrate our mother's birthday which is in July by wishing her happy birthday in February? Would it be very meaningful to her? I don't think so. The same it is with God. God does not appreciate when we try to celebrate sanctified time on a day that He has not sanctified.

I'm not sure what kind of dynamite has to go off to get this through your thick skulls.

Amen the sabbath is the best day of the week, if they could only experience the sabbath instead of looking at it as a burden they would see what a wonderful day it is. The sabbath is not like the other days.

[skyblue888]

Amen!