WHY DO CHRISTIANS WORSHIP ON SUNDAY INSTEAD OF SATURDAY?Text: Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Romans 14:5–6; Colossians 2:16–17By Very Agent Of ChangeOne question has divided Christians for generations:“ If the Sabbath was Saturday, why do most Christians worship on Sunday?”Some say Christians must keep Saturday. Others worship on Sunday because of the resurrection of Jesus.So what does the New Testament actually teach?1. THE SABBATH WAS THE SEVENTH DAYThe Sabbath was established in the creation account:“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.”Genesis 2:3Under the Old Covenant, Israel was commanded to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.Exodus 20:8 says:“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”So Saturday was indeed the biblical seventh day.2. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON THE FIRST DAYJesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week.Matthew 28:1 says:“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.”The resurrection became the central event of Christian faith.This is why the first day of the week became significant to Christians.3. THE EARLY CHURCH GATHERED ON THE FIRST DAYActs 20:7 records:“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread...”Paul also instructed believers regarding their giving:“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store...”1 Corinthians 16:2These passages show Christians gathering and practicing important aspects of their faith on the first day.4. BUT IS SUNDAY A NEW SABBATH?This is where Christians need to be careful.The New Testament does not simply say, “Sunday has replaced Saturday as the Sabbath.”Instead, Paul teaches:“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.”Colossians 2:16Romans 14:5 also says:“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”Therefore, Christians have historically understood these passages differently.Some continue to observe Saturday as the Sabbath.Others worship primarily on Sunday because of Christ's resurrection and the practice of the early church.5. THE GREATER QUESTION IS CHRISTThe Christian faith is not ultimately about winning an argument over a calendar day.Paul says the Sabbath was “a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”Colossians 2:17The focus is Christ.Whether someone worships on Saturday or Sunday, worship should come from genuine faith in God, not from religious competition.CONCLUSIONThe seventh day was the biblical Sabbath given to Israel.Jesus rose on the first day of the week.The early Christians are recorded gathering on the first day.Yet the New Testament also warns believers against judging one another over days.So instead of asking only:“Which day are you worshipping on?”We should also ask:“Are you truly worshipping Christ?”A calendar cannot replace a relationship with God.A religious day cannot replace obedience.And arguing about the day must never become more important than following the Lord of the day.REMEMBERThe goal is not merely to gather on the right day. The goal is to belong to Christ and worship Him in spirit and in truth.
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