~ The Disciples Worshipped God On The First
Day Of The Week ~
Introduction
~ In the Old Testament the
Sabbath was established as part of The Law.
The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown
Saturday evening. In the New Testament
the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on
tablets of stone. It is the heart’s
attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10). Following Christ’s resurrection, which
occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have
observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts
20:7).
Passage
~ “Now on the first day of
the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to
depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until
midnight. There were many lamps in the
upper room where they were gathered together.
And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking
into a deep sleep. He was overcome by
sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and
was taken up dead. But Paul went down,
fell on him, and embracing him said, ‘Do not trouble yourselves, for his life
is in him.’ Now when he had come up, had
broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he
departed. And they brought the young man
in alive, and they were not a little comforted” (Acts 20:7-12).
Comment
~ The Disciples maintained the
concept of a weekly day set apart to contemplate God. In honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
on the first day of the week they chose to honor God on Sunday to focus on God
as in the past but even more importantly the finished work of redemption by the
Son of God in conquering death and rising on the first day of the week.
“And if
Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God,
because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not
raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise.
For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is
futile; you are still in your sins!
Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:14-19).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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