Worship On Sunday?

CAN CHRISTIANS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE CHOOSE TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY?

Text: Hosea 4:6 By: Dr. Rex Duff, BA, MA, M.Div., MHA, D. Ministry, J.D.

Background

Ellen White and the seventh day Adventist in 1844 decided the Sabbath was the day to worship on, not Sunday. They had been expecting Jesus to return in the 1840’s, and when he did not return this was the reason they came up with. Was she the first to discover Sabbath worship?
The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath as well as on the first day of the week (A Strand, page 324, “Washington D.C. Review and Herald”, 1982). Constantinople was the center of Eastern Christianity, until destroyed by the Muslims.
The ancient Waldenses were split on the Sabbath vs. Sunday issue on worship. (Gerald Damsteegt, “Were the Waldensians Sabbath-Keepers,” Published on the internet, 9/6/2017).
The Church of the Brethren under the leadership of Alexander Mack split over the issue of the Sabbath at the Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata, PA, with the group that became the 7th day German Baptist in 1728 (See History of 7th day German Baptist, posted on the internet)
The 7th day Baptist in America, split over the Sabbath, led by Stephen Mamford in 1671 or 1/1672), from the first Baptist Church in America, located in Newport, Rhode Island, by John Clarke in 1638. (From the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, USA and Canada).
It can also be mentioned that in the 1600’s, early Puritans were devided on the Sabbath.

4 Scripture passages used to teach Sunday worship falsely

1. Revelation 1:10 –On the Lord’s Day…. No matter how you try to make this verse say Sunday it does not. A close study of the Old Testament shows the Jews only came to Jerusalem 3 times a year (staying in nearby Bethlehem) Deuteronomy 16:16. Jesus was either born at the Feast of Tabernacles or Passover (Luke 1:5-38). John the Baptist came first, (6 months earlier, Passover) so Jesus was born on the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus celebrated the Passover on Nissan 14th, after dark (which fell on a Tuesday in 31AD) Jesus was born in 4BC (the calendar was off). A close study of when Passover fell, from about 26 AD, until 34 AD, shows the Passover never fell on Thursday, as our Catholic myth would teach. (Blogs.bible.org) Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, still Nissan 14th. He was in the tomb before 6PM, the start of the feast of unleavened bread. A high Sabbath (Mark 15:42) Are Thursday continued the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15th). This was the Feast of Unleavened Bread (a holy convocation) Sabbath (Leviticus 23:6-7). On Friday the women went and bought Spices (Mark 16:1). It was physically impossible to BUY spices any other day but Friday. Sometime after 3PM, on the Sabbath, Jesus rose. This is 72 hours from his death on Wednesday. Two very interesting verses are (Matthew 27:52-53). When did this take place (after His Resurrection) if it did not take place Saturday night, the Jews first day of the week, and before Jesus told Mary not to cling to Him (John 20:17). Why? Jesus was taking a short trip to Heaven with all the Old Testament saved! You ask, why have I given you all of this, because the Lord’s Day is the SABBATH!!!

2. I Corinthians 16:1-2 has been used to teach taking of offerings in Church on Sunday. However, Christians were to start storing money (By themselves, at home). Why, because it was the first work day in Jesus day!

3. Romans 14:5-6, has been used by some to justify Sunday worship. No where is worship ever talked about in these verses. What then is Romans 14:5-6 talking about? It is talking about some who choose to fast on certain days, and some who choose not to fast on certain days. The passage is dealing with food, not worship!

4. Colossians 2:16-17 – Might be saying… Let no one judge you who keep the feast days, or the Sabbaths.

II. 5 Verses that allow, or require Sunday worship

In Leviticus 23:10-14 - The Feast of First Fruits (the day Jesus took the Old Testament saints to Heaven. It is required to celebrate this on the day after the Sabbath, which is our Sunday.
In Leviticus 23:15-16 – The Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost) It again is the day after the Sabbath, which is our Sunday. You are required to do this on a Sunday.
In Acts 20:7-12 – Here we find Paul continuing his message (Verse 7) on a Saturday night from an earlier service on the Sabbath, until Sunday morning when instead of going to Church, he departed (verse 11). To be fair, Saturday night was the first day of the week in the Jewish calendar!
John 19:19-23 – Jesus on the first day of the week (Sunday) gives the Disciples the indwelling Holy Spirit (long before Pentecost)
John 20:26-29 – Jesus returns again to His disciples, and restores Thomas faith, again on a Sunday.

Some conclusions: These are the only examples of Sunday worship in the Bible, and 2 of the best references are from the feast days. How can a Christian even worship on any Sunday, and not celebrate the Feast Days, that God says will be celebrated forever (Leviticus 23). However, the first feast given in Leviticus 23:3 is the weekly Sabbath. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation.
In Genesis 2:1-3 God established the Sabbath, and set it apart. This has never changed. In Exodus 20:8-11, God once again in the 10 commandments declares only the 7th day is the Sabbath, a day of rest. In Exodus 20:11, God refers to Genesis 2:1-3. When Jesus returns to earth, what day shall all people worship Christ? Isaiah 66:22-23, says it will be on the Sabbath (Saturday). Finally, Hebrews tell us in 4:9—There remains a (Sabbath) rest for the people of God (NKJV)

What is the final conclusion, yes, a Church can worship God on Sunday, as long as it also worships God on Saturday, the Sabbath. In stead of dividing into different denominations, why does not the Church for the 21st Century worship God on both days, like the Church at Constantinople did!