Why worship on Sunday, not Saturday?
Introduction. There is a great deal of confusion regarding Sunday and Saturday worship. Perhaps we can remove some of this misunderstanding.
The Jews worshipped on the Sabbath. "Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it," the Decalogue stated, "as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee" (Deut. 5: 12). Labor on the Sabbath or the seventh day of the week was forbidden (Deut. 5: 13,14). To disregard the Sabbath day law, was a capital offense (Num. 15: 37-41). The Ten Commandment Law, including the Sabbath day law, was given to physical or national Israel, not to Gentiles, as such (Deut. 5: 1-3). The Jews also offered animal sacrifice, were to avoid certain foods, and were forbidden marriage with other nations (Lev. 4; Neh. 13). Jesus kept the Sabbath because he lived and died under the Law of Moses (Gal. 4: 4, 1 Pet. 2: 22).
Law of Moses and Christians. Some people today claim Christians are to still obey the Law of Moses (including the Sabbath). The same was true in New Testament times. See especially Acts 15 when this very issue was discussed (verses 1 & 5) and clearly resolved by the inspired apostles in the first century. Note carefully the resulting teaching of verses 23-29. Command the Gentiles to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses? Not hardly. The law, containing the Sabbath day ordinance, has been "nailed to the cross" (Col. 2: 14). Thus, we are to let no man judge us "in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days" (Col. 2: 16). For zealous Jews raised under the Mosaic Law who became Christians, such was often a hard lesson to learn (e.g., Peter in Gal. 2:3-16 and Acts 10:9-16).
The first day of the week is associated with Christians. Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week (our Sunday, Matt. 28: 1). The church was established on Sunday, the gospel was first preached in its fullness, and remission of sin as a result of Jesus' blood were all begun on Sunday (Acts 2). It was on the first day of the week when Christians came together to observe the Lord's Supper (Acts 20: 7). It was also on Sunday that Christians gave of their means into the treasury of the local church (1 Cor. 16: 1,2). While the Sabbath was part of God's covenant with the Jews, the first day of the week is the day associated with Jesus' new covenant or testament (Heb. 8; 9).
The Jews worshipped on the Sabbath. "Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it," the Decalogue stated, "as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee" (Deut. 5: 12). Labor on the Sabbath or the seventh day of the week was forbidden (Deut. 5: 13,14). To disregard the Sabbath day law, was a capital offense (Num. 15: 37-41). The Ten Commandment Law, including the Sabbath day law, was given to physical or national Israel, not to Gentiles, as such (Deut. 5: 1-3). The Jews also offered animal sacrifice, were to avoid certain foods, and were forbidden marriage with other nations (Lev. 4; Neh. 13). Jesus kept the Sabbath because he lived and died under the Law of Moses (Gal. 4: 4, 1 Pet. 2: 22).
Law of Moses and Christians. Some people today claim Christians are to still obey the Law of Moses (including the Sabbath). The same was true in New Testament times. See especially Acts 15 when this very issue was discussed (verses 1 & 5) and clearly resolved by the inspired apostles in the first century. Note carefully the resulting teaching of verses 23-29. Command the Gentiles to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses? Not hardly. The law, containing the Sabbath day ordinance, has been "nailed to the cross" (Col. 2: 14). Thus, we are to let no man judge us "in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days" (Col. 2: 16). For zealous Jews raised under the Mosaic Law who became Christians, such was often a hard lesson to learn (e.g., Peter in Gal. 2:3-16 and Acts 10:9-16).
The first day of the week is associated with Christians. Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week (our Sunday, Matt. 28: 1). The church was established on Sunday, the gospel was first preached in its fullness, and remission of sin as a result of Jesus' blood were all begun on Sunday (Acts 2). It was on the first day of the week when Christians came together to observe the Lord's Supper (Acts 20: 7). It was also on Sunday that Christians gave of their means into the treasury of the local church (1 Cor. 16: 1,2). While the Sabbath was part of God's covenant with the Jews, the first day of the week is the day associated with Jesus' new covenant or testament (Heb. 8; 9).