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The Significance of The First Day of the Week

Explore the historical and biblical significance of assembling on the first day of the week in early Christianity and its impact on worship practices. Delve into the theological implications and historical contexts of Sunday gatherings.

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The Significance of The First Day of the Week

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  1. The Significance of The First Day of the Week John 20:1–9

  2. The First Day of the Week • Many Do Not Realize the Significance– • The church from its founding assembled on the first day of the week. • On Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4) • In Galatia (I Corinthians 16:1) • At Corinth (I Corinthians 16:2) • At Troas (Acts 20:7) • All the churches (I Corinthians 4:17; cf. 7:17; 14:33) • And continued to do so…

  3. The First Day of the Week • The Early Church Continued to Assemble— “Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.” —Justin Martyr, Apology I, [67.1–3, 7]

  4. The First Day of the Week • The Early Church Continued to Assemble— “Others, with greater regard to good manners, it must be confessed, suppose that the sun is the god of the Christians, because it is a well-known fact that we pray towards the east, or because we make Sunday a day of festivity.” —Tertullian, To the Nations, [1.13]

  5. The First Day of the Week • The Early Church Continued to Assemble— “They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food…” —Pliny, Letter to Emperor Trajan, [10.96]

  6. The First Day of the Week • Change Advocates Redefine Worship: “Worship is a life given in obedience to God. It’s not a when or a where proposition, but a what. It’s what we are. You can’t go to it or leave it, dress for it, and you can’t start it or stop it… It doesn’t open or close with a prayer, and it doesn’t have human leaders or a special day.” —Mike Root, Unbroken Bread, p. 115

  7. The First Day of the Week • Change Advocates Redefine Worship: “Worship cannot be isolated or relegated to just one place, time or segment of our lives… Worship as the word of God presents it is internal, sacrificial, active, and productive. That is not at all the world’s concept of worship, yet it is the only kind of worship God recognizes. It is the purest kind of worship…” —John MacArthur, (as quoted with approval by Mike Root in Spilt Grape Juice, p. 34)

  8. The First Day of the Week • Change Advocates Redefine Worship: “He didn’t say one single word about performing a Sunday morning ritual…God never gave any instructions to the church… there is not a single instance where God, an apostle, or any inspired writer ever instructed the church to come together to perform a worship service.” —R. L. Kirkpatrick, Ensign (21:1:1993)

  9. The First Day of the Week • It Is the Day Upon Which Jesus Was Raised— • The NT declares Sunday, the first day of the week, as the day of resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). • Luke 24 is very precise in identifying Sunday as the third day (Luke 24:1, 13, 21; cf. 24:7). • It was on the morning of the first day of the week that the women, Peter and John found the tomb of Jesus empty.

  10. The First Day of the Week • It Is the Day Jesus Appeared to Disciples— • He appeared to Mary first (Mark 16:9). • He appeared to two going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–31). • He appeared to other women (Matthew 28:9). • He appeared to Peter on that first day (Luke 24:33–34). • He appeared to the 11 w/o Thomas (John 20:19–25). • The next Sunday He appeared to Thomas with the 11 (John 20:26–29).

  11. The First Day of the Week • The Holy Spirit Descended on this Day— • The Spirit came when the Day of Pentecost was fully come (Acts 2:1–4). • Leviticus 23:15–16 reckons the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost as the morrow after the seventh Sabbath from the Sabbath of the Passover week. • Therefore, 50 days determined by seven Sabbaths plus one day, and the day after a Sabbath is always the First Day of the Week, that is, Sunday.

  12. The First Day of the Week • The Holy Spirit Descended on this Day— • The Spirit on the first day of the week gave undeniable proof that Jesus is Lord and Christ (Romans 1:4; Acts 2:32–36). • He could not come until Christ returned to the Father and was glorified (John 7:37–39; 16:7–11). • His coming signaled the coronation of the King of Kings (Mark 9:1; Matthew 19:28; Hebrews 1:1–8; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; I Peter 3:22; Ephesians 1:20).

  13. The First Day of the Week • The Gospel Preached as Fact the First Time— • The resurrection of Jesus Christ was declared “with power” on the first day of the week (Romans 1:4). • The first Gospel converts were made (Acts 2:41). • Water baptism in the name of Christ first practiced and seen on the first day of the week (Acts 2:41). • The first men “raised to walk in newness of life” did so on the first day of the week (Romans 6:1–11; Colossians 2:11–12; 3:1).

  14. The First Day of the Week • The Church Was Established & Assembled— • Christ promised to build His church and reign over His Kingdom (Matthew 16:18–19). • Christ came into His Kingdom and salvation in His name was made known on the first day of the week (Acts 2:32–36). • The first worship offered to the new King occurred on that day. They prayed, sang, broke bread, gave and studied the Scriptures (Acts 2:42, 47).

  15. The First Day of the Week • Why We Assemble Every First Day— • Bible examples authorize assembling to obey certain commands which Christ has given His church. • Giving is limited to the first day of the week and requires an assembly (I Corinthians 16:1–2). • Likewise, we know the church assembled on the first day of the week for the Lord’s supper and other acts of worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7). • Therefore, to do so is right.

  16. The First Day of the Week • Why We Assemble Every First Day— • However, the significance of the day in relation to these authorized activities is apparent. • Only the first day of the week conveys any significance with the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:24–26). • Only the first day of the week conveys the significance associated with giving (II Corinthians 8:8).

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