Sunday Services

Why Church Sunday

It is Certain Churches of Christ Allowing Saturday or Sunday services Are Un-Biblical. Sunday is the biblical day. Some diversity churches have gone to a saturday evening or sunday because of when some teach the day beginning. This is clearly incorrect. Sunday afternoon or evening is far more biblical than Saturday evening.

The question would be, why meet on the first day for church if we don't know the exact day or hour Christ rose, the answer is Sunday is the day Christ revealed himself to the disciples.

Joh 20:1  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

The scriptures show Christ revealed on the first day.

Scholars believe different sects started the day at different times. According to the quote from the following website some started the day at sunset and some started the day at sunrise. This gave debates over whether Christ was raised the first day or the weekly sabbath, so some met on the sabbath thinking the day of worship was to coincide with the sabbath.

Our day of worship is used because that is when Christ was first revealed to be raised. When the day starts really has no value since we can't prove which method is correct.

Harold Hoehner demonstrates from the Mishnah that there were actually two systems of reckoning a day at the time of the Messiah:

The Galileans and Pharisees used the sunrise-to-sunrise reckoning whereas the Judeans and Sadducees used the sunset-to-sunset reckoning. . . . This view not only satisfies the data of the Synoptics and the Gospel of John, it is also substantiated by the Mishnah. It was the custom of the Galileans to do no work on the day of the Passover while the Judeans worked until midday [the footnote reference is to Mishnah : Pesahim iv.5]. Since the Galileans’ day began at sunrise they would do no work on the entire day of the Passover. On the other hand the Judeans’ day began at sunset and they would work the morning but not the afternoon” (Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, p.87,88).

http://2besaved.com/2bsdaystartextra/

Day Start Extra Commentaries

So the biblical day and John 20:1 could reflect a day that started at 

1. sunset

2. sunrise

3. midnight

Roman time could be used after the crucifixion since the law was immediately removed, so the day would possibly revert to the standard Roman time. Or, John as a Levite from Galilee and Paul as a Pharisee could view the day beginning at sunrise. Typically those insisting on a sabbath meeting insist upon a sunset to sunset day, but that historical view may be incorrect. 

Consider also Jesus sent disciples into Jerusalem to prepare the passover, allowing them to work part of the day. There is no proof they honored either time concept. They went and prepared the passover. This began on the 10th of Nisan and they did not eat till the 14th, giving them 3 days. We do not know when they stopped preparing.

John 20:1 could be the beginning of the first day if rays of sunlight appeared on the horizon, but it was still dark. Since it was still the first day later that afternoon John 20:1 could not mark the end of day one. We cannot know for certain which time was used. This verse does not tell us what time Jesus rose from the dead, it just tells us when the first disciples first noticed he was gone. Since the first day could begin at evening the night before, or midnight, or even that morning when first rays of light appeared but while still dark; we simply accept the first day was when they first noticed.

 Even if he rose the Sabbath, he revealed himself the first day, this is very plain. He couldn't have congregated with them that sabbath because no one knew he was alive until the 1st day. Then he met the disciples the evening of the 1st day after showing himself that morning, the first day. John 20:19.

Joh 20:19  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 

John 20:1-26  shows they had not congregated with Jesus on the sabbath.

Thus, Jesus established a day for teaching and encouragement. Jesus likely rose Sunday morning but there is enough doubt in some minds for us not to be overly dogmatic. Some church Fathers said the Lord's Supper was Sunday because Christ rose that day. It doesn't really matter if he rose Sunday as far as the Christian assembly is concerned. Jesus met to encourage them on Sunday after the resurrection. The church established this pattern for communion, worship, teaching, and encouragement by the example Christ gave and direction of the Holy Spirit.

Keep in mind the offering of first fruits was the day following the sabbath, Jewish feasts were shadows of New Testament fulfillment. Christ our first fruit could be worshipped the day after the sabbath as well. There is no reason we should move our day to the sabbath. Not all Jewish religious activities were designed to be on the Sabbath, anyway.

Lev 23:10  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 

Lev 23:11  And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 

Jesus appeared the day after the sabbath.

Those who argue over the day Christ rose for the sole purpose of changing the Christian meeting to the Jewish Sabbath are pretty disingenuous and divisive. Paul said to do all things without murmuring and complaining. Following Christ's example in John 20:19-26 , and the Apostle's example Acts 20:7 and I Cor. 16:1, isn't that complicated. Also Paul wrote to do all things decently and in order. The Greek word for decent means an attitude without strife, and in order means according to the revealed order.

Sabbatarians have no case even if Christ was raised on the Sabbath. I believe he was raised Sunday, either day, they have no case. Their arguments don't matter. Those who allow both have no case.

Also, Acts 20:7 may have been a day where it was well into the first day instead of the beginning of the first day as portrayed by sabbaterians. It was late afternoon of the first day as was John 20:19. As in John 20:19 where they were at least a full 8 hours into the first day, perhaps more.

John may have used a day that in his perspective began at morning instead of evening. Or midnight instead of evening.

We cannot be totally certain.

Joh 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 

Eight days from and including the first day is again Sunday. 

Those churches who started having a Saturday night service and a Sunday service simply misunderstand John 20 in relation to Acts 20:7.

The meeting of John 20:19 could not be the start of the 1st day just after the Sabbath, because John 20:1 said it was the first day that morning. Thus, Acts 20:7 was likely not the beginning of the first day as Sabbaterians teach.

Churches who begin services Saturday evening at 5pm, especially in summer hours are not close to reality.

These times just free people to have a full Sunday off. They aren't biblical.