The Early Church Worshipped On The First Day, Sunday, NOT The Seventh Day, Saturday

9. The Early Church Worshipped On The First Day, Sunday, NOT The Seventh Day, Saturday.

We are told, specifically, in Hebrews 10:25, as Christians, not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Notice, carefully, that the assembling of the Christians in the Book of Acts (the "History Book" of the Early Church) was never on the seventh day, Saturday. Jesus never recognized the Sabbath (Saturday) after His Resurrection; and, we find no record that He ever met with His disciples or any other group for the purpose of worship on the Sabbath, after His Resurrection.

John 20:19 tells us that Jesus met with His disciples on the first day of the week.

"Then the same day at evening, being the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."

Then we have recorded, just one week later, the disciples assembled again on the first day of the week, Sunday.

"And after EIGHT DAYS again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you." (John 20:26 )

Here is Jesus, during the 40 days after His Resurrection, meeting with His disciples on the EIGHTH DAY, or the first day of the next week—Sunday. Within these 40 days before His ascension, we can find no record that He ever met with His disciples on the Sabbath; nor does He even mention the Sabbath.

Now, let us again go to the "History Book" of the Early Church, where we find the believers meeting on the first day of the week and never on the Sabbath.

"And again the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, when the disciples came to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." (Acts 20:7). Could the Word of God be any clearer, that the customary day of believer's assembling themselves together was the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, Sunday, NOT the Sabbath.

One more case in point. You may recall in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, when Paul was writing to the Corinthians about giving. He had advised the other churches in Galatia to take up a collection for the poor, less-fortunate Christians in Jerusalem; and, he was advising the Corinthians to do the same.

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even do ye. Upon the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (Sunday, not the Sabbath) let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." This was not an isolated case with the Corinthians, as Paul had also instructed the Galatian churches to do the same thing on the same day, Sunday, the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.

Question: What about Paul preaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath (Saturday)? As we go through the Book of Acts, we do find that Paul went into the synagogues on several occasions and preached the Gospel. This, of course, was on the Sabbath, or Saturday. Those that Paul was trying to reach by preaching in the synagogues were LOST people, still trying to keep the Law for their justification. Paul's message to them was Grace; not, Law! Paul did not break bread or worship with them. That was not his purpose. He was capitalizing on an opportunity to reach a lot of people at one time and give the Gospel.

Paul describes it this way in 1 Corinthians 9:19-20,

"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law."

Paul gives his purpose for going into the synagogue on the Sabbath very precisely. It was to win his kinsmen, the Jews, to Christ; not to worship or fellowship with them.

Question: How long would Paul continue this practice? Let us return to Acts 1:8, where we have the commission, or "marching papers of the Christian" given by the Lord, Himself.

"...ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth".

Paul followed this order, "To the Jew first," until they finally rejected his message. At that point, he turned to the Gentiles and the rest of the world, regardless of nationality, color, or creed.

Acts 18:4-7 a is the record of the last time that Paul preached to them on the Sabbath Day.

"And he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks...Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the JEWS that Jesus (humanity) was Christ (deity). And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he (Paul) shook his raiment, and said unto them, I am clean: FROM HENCEFORTH I WILL GO UNTO THE GENTILES, and he departed thence..." This is the last mention of the Sabbath in the Book of Acts. It is no more "To the Jew first"; nor, is there any more worship under the Law on the Sabbath. Why? Because...

"...Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to everyone that believeth."

Christians, today, are instructed to set aside a day for gathering together. Hebrews 10:25 tells us,

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." This would be a time of rest, physically and mentally, from our jobs of weekly labor and stress. It is a time of spiritual refreshment as Christians gather together, learning the Word of God, observing the Lord's Supper, fellowshipping and singing together. It also provided a special day for all Christians to unite in giving their offerings unto the Lord as the Lord "hath prospered them." This would be following the principle laid down in 1 Corinthians 14:40, "Let all things be done decently and in order."

Therefore, that one day a week which was observed by the disciples was the first day of the week—Sunday. These were Christians, set free from the law of sin and death, including the seventh-day Sabbath. Remember, whenever we find the disciples meeting together, and the day is mentioned, it is always the first day of the week—Sunday.

Let me recapitulate. John 20:19 says it was the "first day of the week" when Christ met with them. Eight days later, that again being the "first day of the week," Christ met with the disciples as recorded in John 20:26. In Acts 20:7, Paul met with the disciples on the "first day of the week"—Sunday. From 1 Corinthians 16:1,2, we find that all the churches in Galatia, as well as the one in Corinth, assembled together on the "FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK."

One can easily see God's will; instructing the disciples through the guidance of the Holy Spirit; in choosing a specific day for worship and fellowship; thus, corroborating His Word.

"Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40). This principle has been followed by Christendom, ever since it was first established by the disciples after the Resurrection of Christ.

Just imagine what chaos we would have in the work force if some Christians wanted Monday off to worship. Then, there would be some who wanted Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday; or maybe Friday or Saturday off to worship. No company could run efficiently if a different group of people were missing every day. God knew exactly what He was doing when He established a specific day, that being THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, for Christians to assemble together. It also protected the manufacturing plants and all companies, today, who need a full work force each day to effectively turn out their product or service.