Moving from Old to New
- The rules from the Old Testament are no longer the main guide for how we live. (Hebrews 8:13)
- Jesus brought in a New Testament, or agreement, with God. (Luke 22:19, 20)
- This new covenant is better than the old one. (Hebrews 8:6)
- It's a "new way" to live. (Hebrews 10:20)
- You can't just try to add the new way to the old way; they don't mix. (Mark 2:22)
- We now live in a time of grace (God's undeserved favor), not a time ruled by strict law. (John 1:17; Ephesians 3:2)
- We are not bound by the laws of the Old Testament. (Galatians 3:19-25)
- Instead, we live under the "law of liberty" (freedom). (James 2:12; Galatians 5:13, 14)
- Because of the Gospel (the good news about Jesus), we are no longer like paid "servants" but are now "sons" of God (Galatians 4:1-7), part of "God's household" (Ephesians 2:19), and even Jesus' "friends" (John 15:15).
Holy Days and Personal Choice - Christians don't have to keep any of the Old Testament holy days. (Colossians 2:14-17; Galatians 4:10, 11, 21)
- Some early Jewish Christians still felt they needed to follow old laws about eating certain foods and observing the Jewish Sabbath and other holy days. Non-Jewish Christians didn't bother with these rules. Paul said it was up to each person to decide these things for themselves, as they weren't essential. (Romans 14:1-6) This includes the Jewish Sabbath, as Paul is talking about the Ten Commandments. (Read Romans 13:8-14:6 and Colossians 2:14-16.) So, you have the freedom to observe or not observe these old holy days and food rules. (Romans 14:1-6)
- The Old Covenant had several special days to remember things, like the Sabbath, Passover, and Pentecost. All of these ended when that agreement passed away. (Colossians 2:14-17)
- So, it makes sense that under the New Covenant, there would be new memorial days that fit the new way of life and are observed for new reasons. (Matthew 9:15-17)
New Understanding with the Holy Spirit - Jesus only "began" teaching the Gospel and instructing his followers. (Acts 1:1, 2; John 16:12)
- After Jesus went back to heaven, the Holy Spirit was meant to finish teaching them what they couldn't understand before. (John 16:12, 13)
For example, they couldn't fully grasp the resurrection day until Jesus had actually risen. (Luke 24:25-27) Even ten years later, Peter still hadn't fully understood that the old Jewish law's distinctions were gone. (Read Acts 10, especially verse 28.) Because of this, it was natural for the new Church to gradually place more importance on the day of Jesus' resurrection. It took twenty years before circumcision was officially no longer required for Christians. (Acts 15).The Apostles' Authority
- The apostles weren't ready to teach the Church until the Holy Spirit gave them power at Pentecost. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 5; 2:1-4)
- We should listen to the apostles just as we would listen to Jesus Himself. (Luke 10:16)
- What they "write are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 14:37)
- The Holy Spirit authorized them to give rules and practices for the Church to follow. (Acts 15:28; 16:4; 1 Corinthians 11:2)
- We should follow the apostles' example in matters of faith and teachings. (1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9; Hebrews 13:7)
- A special day to remember the Gospel is to celebrate its greatest event. What was that? It was definitely the resurrection of Jesus.
- Jesus' life alone, or His teachings, could not save anyone.
- His holy teachings alone could not save anyone.
- All His miracles couldn't wash away a single sin.
- If He had died and never risen, the world would have been lost. (1 Corinthians 15:17, 18)
- So, the salvation of a lost world depended entirely on one incredibly important fact: Jesus's rising from the dead. (Romans 1:4)
- Jesus Himself said His resurrection would prove He was divine. (John 2:18-21; Matthew 12:38-40)
- His enemies understood this and tried to stop it. (Matthew 27:63, 64)
- His resurrection showed that He is the Son of God (Romans 1:4) and the judge of the world (Acts 17:31), and it secured our salvation. (1 Corinthians 15:17, 18)
- We can be sure that all the angels in heaven and all the devils in hell anxiously watched for this event.
- This amazing event, by God's plan, happened on a Sunday. (Mark 16:9)
- On that day, the power of death and hell was broken. (Revelation 1:18)
- On that day, Jesus first appeared alive to His disciples. (Mark 16:9)
- On Sunday, he met with them many times and in different places. (Mark 16:9-14; Matthew 28:8-10; Luke 24:34; John 20:19-23, etc.)
- On this day, He declared peace upon them. (John 20:19)
- On that day, He gave them the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22)
- On this day, He first told them to preach the Gospel to the entire world. (John 20:21 with Mark 16:9-15)
- On that day, He gave them authority over His Church. (John 20:23)
- On that day, Jesus went up to His Father. (John 20:17; Ephesians 1:20)
- On this day, many of the dead saints came back to life. (Matthew 27:51-53)
- On this day, the good news of the risen Christ was first preached. (Luke 24:34)
- On that Sunday, Jesus helped them understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:27, 45)
- On this day, the most important event happened that made Jesus a complete Savior. (Romans 1:4)
- Because of this, Sunday became a day of joy and happiness for His followers. (John 20:20)
- Jesus' resurrection on Sunday made Him the "cornerstone" of the new faith, the most important part. (Psalm 118:22; Acts 4:10, 11; Ephesians 1:20-22)
- It was predicted that this day would be a day of joy for the Church (Psalm 118:22-24), and it has been ever since.
- No other day of the week could have become the special day to remember the risen Christ and His joyful Church. Think about all the days:
The Importance of the Resurrection
The Significance of Sunday
Sunday: The Day of Triumph and New Beginnings
- What happened on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday to make them stand out?
- Thursday brought Jesus' betrayal and the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Friday was His trial and death.
- Saturday was the darkest day—the Son of God was dead!
- Surely none of these days would be right to celebrate Christ's victory and the new hope of the early Church.
48. But with the start of Sunday morning, everything changed gloriously! An angel came from heaven, the grave opened, Christ rose, dead saints came back to life, Jesus' divinity was proven, salvation for the world was secured, Satan's fate was sealed, and all the disciples' faith and hopes suddenly came back to life. The first day of the new era, the new plan of God, had dawned on the world!
49. Naturally, the special memories of that glorious day immediately became the main focus for the apostles, disciples, and saints. All their hopes revolved around it. They talked about it, preached about it, prayed about it, and sang about it. Everything they believed in depended on it. They didn't need a law or a loud command from Mount Sinai to make them remember it. It was deeply held in their hearts, just like their risen Lord. They couldn't forget it.
50. This is how the observance of "the Lord's Day" began. In all of Jesus' life, it was the only day that could become a special day to remember the new plan—a new creation. The facts clearly show that it quickly became just that.
Sunday: The Day of Gatherings and the Holy Spirit
51. On the very next Sunday (eight days later), Jesus intentionally met with them again. (John 20:26) This is based on the Jewish way of counting, where "after three days" is the same as "the third day," so "after eight days" means the eighth day, which would be the next Sunday.
52. The amazing pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), when the first people came to believe in the risen Christ, also happened on a Sunday. The Old Testament law clearly stated that Pentecost had to happen "the morrow after the seventh Sabbath" (Leviticus 23:15, 16). So, it was by God's own design that it fell on a Sunday.
53. Pentecost! The Church could never forget it. This was the second reason why Sunday became the special day to remember the Gospel Age.
54. Acts 20:6-11 clearly shows that the disciples held their meetings and communion on that day (Sunday). Paul had been there for seven days, including the Jewish Sabbath (see verse 6), but no meetings were held on the Jewish Sabbath. There's no hint of any meeting on the Jewish Sabbath; it's not even mentioned.
Early Church Meetings on Sunday
55. The Bible clearly states that "upon the first day of the week the disciples came together." (Acts 20:7)56. The reason they met was also clearly stated: it was "to break bread," which refers to communion.
57. This shows that Sunday was the day they usually held this sacred service.
58. There's no hint that Paul specifically called a special meeting. Instead, the Bible plainly shows that he waited until they "came together" in their usual place, at their usual time, for their usual service. He then took the opportunity to preach to them.
Debunking the Saturday Night Claim (Acts 20)
- The claim by Adventists that this meeting was on Saturday night is incorrect for several reasons:
- The meeting was on "the first day of the week," and they "departed on the morrow" (verse 7). This means the meeting could not have been on the same day as their departure, which would be the case if it were Saturday night.
- Troas was a Roman town, under Roman rule, and far from Jerusalem. They would have used Roman time there, where the new day began at midnight, not at sunset as in Jewish time.
- Luke, who wrote Acts, addressed his book to Theophilus (Acts 1:1), a Roman from Italy who would have used Roman time.
- Even the apostles, in their later writings, used Roman time. For example, John 20:19 shows that Sunday evening was considered part of "the first day."
- The meeting was on "the first day of the week," and they "departed on the morrow" (verse 7). This means the meeting could not have been on the same day as their departure, which would be the case if it were Saturday night.
- Therefore, Acts 20 provides an apostolic example for meeting on Sunday, and we are meant to follow their example. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)
A Command for Sunday Giving
- 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 supports this. Here, an apostle directly commands them to observe the first day of the week for a religious purpose: to collect their contributions for the poor on that day.
- Giving to those in need is considered a very pleasing act of religious service to God. (Philippians 4:15-18)
- The specific day for this act of giving is named and commanded: "the first day of the week."
- This command wasn't just for one church; it was given to "all the churches of Galatia" and to "all in every place" (Chapter 1:2), making it a universal instruction.
- In the same letter, Paul strongly tells them, "The things that I write unto you are the 'Commandments of the Lord.'" (Chapter 14:37)
- So, this is a direct "commandment of the Lord" requiring a religious service on Sunday. Can Adventists show any command for keeping the Jewish Sabbath after Jesus' resurrection? No, they cannot.
- Whether this collection was done at home or at church doesn't matter much. It suggests that on that day, people would be free from other business so they could attend to this. There must have been a good reason why Sunday was chosen for this to be done by all the churches. Adventists cannot give any reason. But we offer the best and only possible reason: Sunday was their day of rest and worship.
"The Lord's Day"
- Revelation 1:10 says: "I was in the spirit on the Lord's Day." This refers to the resurrection day (Sunday), which can be widely proven. In the entire Bible, this term is never used for the seventh day (Sabbath).
- Even Adventists themselves never call the seventh day "the Lord's Day, " except when they are specifically arguing about this Bible verse. They consistently refer to it as "The Sabbath."
What "The Lord's Day" Means
71. All religious commentators, no matter their beliefs, also say it was Sunday.
72. In the Bible, the word "Sabbath" was always used for the seventh day, but that's not the word used in Revelation 1:10 when referring to "the Lord's Day."
73. "The Lord's Day" is a new term that appeared only after Jesus' resurrection.
74. If the new Christian faith was going to have a new day to remember, it needed a new name, which is what happened here. If the new day had been called "the Sabbath" (like the old day), it would have caused confusion.
Addressing Adventist Claims
- The word "Sabbath" is used in all those verses, but not in Revelation 1:10.
- All those verses were spoken before Jesus died on the cross; Revelation 1:10 was written after the cross.
- The Jewish Sabbath was done away with at the cross (Colossians 2:16). Therefore, it couldn't be the "Lord's Day" mentioned in Revelation 1:10, which was written sixty years later.
Historical Practice and God's Blessing
78. What makes this clear beyond any doubt is that right after the New Testament was completed, every Christian writer who used the term "Lord's Day" always used it to refer to the resurrection day (Sunday), never the seventh day (Sabbath). You can find proof of this in historical writings.
79. Observing Sunday as a way to remember Christ's resurrection has been the most important practice of the Christian Church throughout history, in all nations, and among all different Christian groups, from the apostles' time onward.
80. Finally, God has blessed the observance of Sunday, as millions of people have confirmed. Keeping Sunday has always had a good impact on individuals, families, communities, and nations. This is supported by all personal experiences and historical accounts.
God made it clear to everyone, except those who refused to see, that the old Jewish laws were gradually ending. The change from the old Jewish religion happened gently. It wasn't forced or abruptly stopped. First, the new ideas, beliefs, and practices of Christianity became firmly established. Then, little by little, people realized that the old ways and the new ways just didn't fit together. This naturally led to letting go of the old practices.
80. Finally, God has blessed the observance of Sunday, as millions of people have confirmed. Keeping Sunday has always had a good impact on individuals, families, communities, and nations. This is supported by all personal experiences and historical accounts.
We have to recognize that God's guidance throughout the history of His Church teaches us something important. It's a clear fact that ever since Christianity began, the main worship services have been held on the day of the resurrection (Sunday), which the Church has universally recognized as the "Lord's Day" for centuries. The honest goal has always been, and still is, to honor Christ and remember His resurrection. If this day were truly hateful to Christ (as Adventists suggest), would He have blessed its observance the way He always has? Please consider this carefully.
The old Jewish ways were made new in Christianity. This didn't happen by simply replacing one rule with another. Instead, the old rules simply became outdated. As believers grew in understanding, guided by the Holy Spirit, they saw that the new Christian practices more than fulfilled what the old ones offered.
Five Ways We Remember Christ's Life
Today, we have five things that remind us of Jesus' life and mission. All of them began when Christianity started, and the Church, in all its different forms, has honored them throughout history. They stand today as the five major ways we show the world our faith in Christ.
- The New Testament writings: These books were written "so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ." (John 20:31)
- The Church: Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church." (Matthew 16:18)
- Baptism: Jesus commanded, "Go... baptizing them." (Matthew 28:19)
- The Lord's Supper: We are told to "Eat the Lord's Supper." (1 Corinthians 11:20)
- The Lord's Day: John said, "I was in the spirit on the Lord's Day." (Revelation 1:10)
All five of these came about in the same way, at the same time, with the same authority, and for the same purpose. They have all continued in some form, have been equally valued by the entire Church, and have been equally blessed by Christ, who is the head of the Church.
Honestly, is it truly the spirit of Christ that is encouraging some people to try and tear down one of these important ways we remember our risen Lord? It would be wise to think and pray about what the outcome of such actions will be.
The positive qualities and good influence of the Lord's Day are no longer debatable. Their positive effects on individuals, the Church, communities, and nations have been proven over the centuries. We cannot fairly stay silent when these things are wrongly criticized as evil.
- Adopted from Dudley M. Canright's book: "Complete Testimony of the Early Fathers Proving the Universal Observance of Sundays In the First Centuries."
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