1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

INTRODUCTION

Many groups of Christians believe that for a church to meet on Sunday, rather than Saturday (the Sabbath) is both unbiblical, and evokes the wrath of God.

The seventh day (Saturday) is an extra-special part of the relationship. The Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, describes the seventh day as the one day God has set aside for focused fellowship with His people. God has named that day “Sabbath” and asked us to spend it with Him. “Remember the sabbath day,” He says, “to keep it holy.” The Sabbath is a whole day to deepen our friendship with the Creator of the universe! A day when we’re together, Jesus with us and us with Jesus. (adventist.org)

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION

1. We have church on Sunday, not to abolish the Law of God, or disregard His Commandments.

(a) Keeping the Sabbath a holy day, is a perpetual, eternal commandment that all people are obligated to keep.

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 31:14-16 You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.

(b) Jesus, our Savior, is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Luke 6:1-5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

If our Savior is Lord of the Sabbath, then the Sabbath is extremely important, and to be obeyed. But also, if He is Lord of the Sabbath, than His understanding of Sabbath is the one we need to obey.

(c) Jesus, our Savior, carefully puts Sabbath-keeping in its proper role.

Mark 2:27 The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

The word “sabbath” in Hebrew means “to cease” or “to rest.” It does not mean “seven,” or “Saturday,” though God commanded it to be on the seventh day. But as a principle, it sets into place a rhythm of human activity, namely, work 6 and rest 1.

(d) Jesus Christ, our Savior, is the Sabbath (rest), and fulfills it by giving us perpetual and eternal rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Hebrews 4:9-11 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

(e) Christians do not relax the command to keep the Sabbath, but rather we strengthen it.

The Sabbath is to be kept not once a week, but every day throughout eternity, in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:17-20 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The commandments against murder and adultery are strengthened in Matt. 5, and by way of implication, all the commandments are. They are strengthened by moving them from the realm of external regulations, to the realm of internal virtues.

So it is with the Sabbath. Sabbath-keeping is not about externals rituals, it is about an internal love for, and relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

2. We have church on Sunday because, the First Day of the week is commemorated by the church from its earliest days.

(a) The early church (who recognized and understood the points made above), wanted to show their distinctions from the traditional Judaism practiced in their culture.

Hebrews 8:6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises…

(b) Why Sunday? It was the day upon which Christ rose from the dead.

Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

APPLICATION THOUGHTS

1. The basic principle of work 6, rest 1 is an amazing truth, that has always, and still today, helps keep people refreshed and focused.
2. Go to church every Sunday as an ongoing celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. Live your life as a Sabbath in Jesus.