Lesson Six - The Day of Worship
Introduction to the Lesson
In the New Testament we not only have the importance of worship set forth, but we are also told on which day the Lord expects his people to assemble to worship. Which day is this?
There are those who teach that the Sabbath day is still binding upon man as the day of worship. Could this be true? Not if the law was taken out of the way, and it was according to 2 Corinthians 3; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 9:16-17 and Hebrews 10:9. It is argued though that Paul met with the Jews on the Sabbath day. This may be true, but no where does it state or indicate that he ever met for worship. Rather, he met with them to have an opportunity to teach them God's will.
If the Sabbath day then is not the day of worship, then which day is? As we turn through the pages of the New Testament we have more than one scripture reference that answers this question. First of all, we will take an example of a group of New Testament Christians that have assembled for worship and we will see on what day they chose to assemble. For instance, when Paul was traveling through the city of Troas, the record says he might have the opportunity of meeting with the Christians for worship. Now let us notice the reading itself: | Acts 20:7 (KJV) 7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. | Please observe that Acts 20:6 says that he dwelt in Troas seven days. That meant that he was also there on the Sabbath day or on Saturday, but the record does not say that he met with the Christians on this day, but rather on the first day of the week, or the first day after the Sabbath day. Now what would be the significance of that? The significance would be that he did not tarry to worship on the Sabbath day, but rather to be there to worship on the day that the Lord had appointed for worship and that was the first day of the week.
What is the first day of the week anyway? Well, under the law of Moses the day of worship was the Sabbath day or the last day of the week. Under the Law of Christ the day of worship is Sunday or the first day of the week. That means that the Lord no longer comes last but first. (Matthew 6:33).
But continuing, let us notice in the second place that the Apostle Paul instructs his Corinthian brethren as to the day they should give of their means. Let us read: | 1 Corinthians 16:1 - 2 (KJV) 1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. | But why was this day chosen as the day for them to give as they had been prospered? Because this was the day of worship and since they would be together for that then it would be an ideal time for them also to give of their means. Now surely if the day of worship had been the Sabbath day then Paul would not have asked them to assemble again on the very next day to give their contribution. On the other hand, those today who teach that the day of worship is Saturday, do they return again on Sunday to obey God's command concerning giving? If not, then why not?
Later on John spoke of the first day of the week as being the Lord's day. (Revelation 1:10). It is true that in one sense that every day is the Lord's, but John must have been speaking of this day in a special way. The Lord's day here would refer to the day of worship or the first day of the week. Otherwise, why would he have called it the Lord's day.
But why is the first day of the week so important? Apart from the fact, as already pointed out, it is suggestive of a change in laws and that the Lord now is to come first, there are several other reasons as to why it is important.
1. Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week.
On the morning of the Lord's resurrection, the record says, |Matthew 28:1 (KJV) In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.| A little later that day, we read, | John 20:19 (KJV) 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.|
2. Jesus appeared before the disciples again on the first day of the week.
Not only did Jesus come forth from the grave on the first day of the week, and appeared to his disciples later in the same day, but now once more it is interesting to note that he again appears to them on the first day of the week. It says, | John 20:26 (KJV) 26And 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.| If Jesus appeared to his disciples on the first day of the week, and then eight days later re-appeared, on what day would be the second visit be made? The first day of the week, of course. Why do the scriptures call this to our attention again and again? Because it was going to be a very important day under the law of Christ. It was going to be the day of worship.
3. The church had its beginning on the first day of the week (Acts 2).
The day of Pentecost came fifty days after the Passover and the day the Lord was resurrected from the grave. So if the Lord was resurrected on the first day of the week and then Pentecost came fifty days later, then what day would Pentecost come on? The first day of the week. But what is so important about the day of Pentecost? In this case it is important to the extent that it came on the first day of the week and it was on this day that the Lord's church was established. Not only so, but many important things happened on this day for the first time, and all of these things tend to place more emphasis on this particular day. For instance, the Holy Spirit came on this day, the first gospel sermon in fact was preached on this day, the first obiedient souls were saved and added to the church on this day. Therefore, the day on which these things occurred cannot be over-looked.
Surely by now we are convinced that the Lord has chosen the first day of the week as being the day for his people to assemble on and to worship. With the example of the early Christians meeting on this day, and then their being commanded to meet on this day to give, this should take away any doubts that might have once existed. Remember, the Lord is to come first in worship and in all other things. That is why each first day of the week Christians are to assemble to worship and to remember him who died for them and who arose for them on the first day of the week.
"Worship of the Early Christians"
Study and Thought Questions for Lesson six
The Day of Worship
1. Is the day of worship important?
2. Has the Lord set asiode a day on which he expects his people to worship?
3. Could the Sabbath day still be binding?
4. What does 2nd Corinthians 3; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 9:16-17; Hebrews 10:9; and Luke 24:44 teach?
5. Why did Paul assemble on the Sabbath day with the Jews?
6. On what day did the Christians assemble in Acts 20:7?
7. If the Sabbath day was the day of worship then why didn't the disciples meet on this day instead of the first day of the week?
8. What is the first day of the week?
9. Why was the first day of the week chosen as the day of worship?
10. Give the day the Corinthian Christians were to meet to give as they had been prospered?
11. Explain the meaning of "the Lord's day".
12. Why is the first day of the week so important?
13. On what day was Jesus resurrected from the grave?
14. What day did Pentecost come on?
15. Mention some things that happened on the day of Pentecost.