Rejoicing In the Sabbath:

[Amanah]

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t007.html

At the very beginning, the church in Jerusalem met every day in the temple and in private homes (Acts 2:46). Since the first believers were all Jewish, it seems safe to assume that they continued to participate in Jewish synagogue and temple worship for some time.

However, the New Testament makes it clear that the observance of a particular day was not imposed as a binding obligation. Romans 14:5-6 makes it clear that there was some freedom in the matter of special days. Colossians 2:16-17 commanded the church not to allow anyone to act as their judge in regard to sabbath days. And Galatians 4:9-10 warns against going back under the Law by insisting on the legal requirement of special days.

The records that remain in the New Testament show that the first day of the week soon became a day of worship. When Paul wanted to collect an offering from the church at Corinth, he asked them to gather the money on the "first day of the week" (1 Cor. 16:2). And when he wanted to meet with the believers at Troas, the gathering took place "on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread" (Acts 20:7).

[Aquila]

Praise the Lord Michael! I’d like to share some thoughts on your post…

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Ok heres what we have.

Christians meeting on the first day of the week.

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. Acts 20:7

It has to be remembered that Paul and the early church were primarily Jewish believers. They would have reckoned their days as starting at sunset, not the way we do today. That would mean that if they gathered on the “first day of the week”, and then Paul, “continued his speech until midnight”, they must have gathered late Saturday just before sunset or later Saturday just after sunset…else Paul’s speech would have been on the “second day of the week” according to their understanding.

1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store , as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come . 1 Cor. 16:1-2

First, this passage doesn’t necessarily imply a “meeting” per se. All Paul is telling believers to do is begin putting money aside for an offering to relieve the saints in Judea. It would be customary to begin setting aside the funds for this so that at the end of the week an offering could be made on the Sabbath when they did meet. Clearly on the first day of the week each individual was home and able to lay up in store for the coming offering.

Two times we are sepecifically told they met on the first day of the week.

Per my comments above, that may not be the case.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t007.html

At the very beginning, the church in Jerusalem met every day in the temple and in private homes (Acts 2:46). Since the first believers were all Jewish, it seems safe to assume that they continued to participate in Jewish synagogue and temple worship for some time.

However, the New Testament makes it clear that the observance of a particular day was not imposed as a binding obligation. Romans 14:5-6 makes it clear that there was some freedom in the matter of special days. Colossians 2:16-17 commanded the church not to allow anyone to act as their judge in regard to sabbath days. And Galatians 4:9-10 warns against going back under the Law by insisting on the legal requirement of special days.

The records that remain in the New Testament show that the first day of the week soon became a day of worship. When Paul wanted to collect an offering from the church at Corinth, he asked them to gather the money on the "first day of the week" (1 Cor. 16:2). And when he wanted to meet with the believers at Troas, the gathering took place "on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread" (Acts 20:7).

I find it very significant that the article cited above says nothing about The Edict of Constantine 321 AD that stated:

"On the Venerable Day of the Sun ["venerabili die Solis"--the sacred day of the Sun] let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine-planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost--Given the 7th day of March, [A.D. 321], Crispus and Constantine being consuls each of them for the second time." The First Sunday Law of Constantine 1, in "Codex Justinianus," lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; trans. in Phillip Schaff "History of the Christian Church," Vol. 3, p. 380

It also doesn't mention the Roman church's official declaration about Sunday in 337 AD:

"Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday [in the original: "sabbato" shall not be idle on the Sabbath], but shall work on that day; but the Lord's day they shall especially honour, and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out ["anathema,"--excommunicated] from Christ." Council of Laodicea, c. A.D. 337, Canon 29, quoted in C.J. Hefele, "A History of the Councils of the Church," Vol. 2, p. 316.

Please review the above at least twice. This is how Sunday was enshrined in the church as being the Christian day of worship. Ask yourself... if this were the normative case throughout the Empire... why would the church need to do this and go on a witchhunt against Sabbath keepers who kept the earlier practice of meeting on the Sabbath??? Also ask yourself, if we are NOT to esteem any given day over another... why did the church order to do so? The point is, the Roman church was seizing power and cutting the faith off from it's Jewish roots (Oneness, Sabbath keeping, etc.). By Romanizing the church they felt they could use Christianity as a political tool to solidify power in the empire.

Lastly, consider what Constantine' law required of the people:

"Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by Heaven." Translated from the original edict in Latin, now in Harvard College U.S.A.

C'mon guys... why the war against those who wish to honor God's chosen holy day? If you want to know the popular position of the church prior to Constantine's edict review the Ante-Nicene Fathers:

"Have before thine eyes the fear of God, and always remember the ten commandments of God, - to love the one and only Lord God with all thy strength; to give no heed to idols, or any other beings, as being lifeless gods, or irrational beings or demons. Consider the manifold workmanship of God, which received its beginning through Christ. Thou shalt observe the Sabbath, on account of Him who ceased from His work of creation, but ceased not from His work of providence; it is a rest for meditation of the law, not for the idleness of the hands." (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 7, p. 413, 1951 edition).

*Please note the writings from the Ante-Nicene Fathers covers the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicaea.

Let's look at the FACTS. The only reason why any of us worship on Sunday as an official day of gathering is because the Emperor Constantine and the Roman church FORCED the early church to by EDICT and severely persecuted the faithful. Those are the FACTS.

[Aquila]

It was the Sabbath keepers who both honored the Sabbath and gathered daily in homes. It was the Sunday keepers who pronounced anathema against Sabbath keepers. Yet today, the Sunday keepers argue:

"However, the New Testament makes it clear that the observance of a particular day was not imposed as a binding obligation." - http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t007.html

The truth is... the only reason why anyone meets specifically on Sunday to gather in corporate worship is because the Sunday keeper crowd forced Sunday down the throat of the church by edict. Yet they say they believe that no particular day was "imposed as a binding obligation". Riiiigggghhhht. I guess those answering questions at "ChristianAnswers.net" don't want anyone to know the history of the Roman church making Sunday "imposed as a binding obligation."

So... if you really believe that no day should be binding or obligatory... why honor the day that the Roman church used to do exactly that??? Why choose a day wherewith many faithful were condemned because they refused to honor it?

[Amanah]

I don't have a problem with people keeping the Sabbath if they want, I don't have a problem with people going to church on Sunday either.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I don't have a problem with people keeping the Sabbath if they want, I don't have a problem with people going to church on Sunday either.

That's a good attitude. But Sunday does have a terrible history with regards to how it became a day of worship in Christianity. I wonder why anyone who knows the origins of it's being established as a Christian day of worship would so readily embrace it over the Sabbath... when they could choose any day to worship?

[Praxeas]

Sabbath was specifically given to Israel as a covenant sign

Our sabbath rest is perpetual, not once a week

[Michael The Disciple]

There are writings from the Early Church Fathers long before the time of Constantine that confirm the Churches were meeting on Sunday. Aquila has not mentioned that.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Sabbath was specifically given to Israel as a covenant sign

Our sabbath rest is perpetual, not once a week

We are grafted into Israel. Also note, the Sabbath was instituted at creation, and was observed in the wilderness prior to Sinai.

[Amanah]

Aquila -
does your house church meet on Saturday, or do you just make Saturday a day of rest in addition to when you meet with your house church?