But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. 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. (Acts 20:6-7)

Sunday Is Sacred

Under the Law of Moses, the seventh day was hallowed and holy, and it was called the Sabbath. The Sabbath was instituted when God gave His law to the nation of Israel as a day to keep holy. Strict regulations were included in the law to enforce the law. While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man picking up sticks on the Sabbath. Uncertain what to do, they brought the man to Moses, who in turn inquired of the Lord what must be done. According to the word of the Lord, the man was to be stoned to death for violating the Sabbath. He was taken outside the camp and stoned to death.

The Jews understood clearly the meaning of the Sabbath. It was observed every seven days. God wanted to teach the Israelites the value of trusting Him for everything they needed. The Lord reminds them through keeping the Sabbath that He delivered them from Egypt, and He wanted and demanded they observe the Sabbath for that remembrance. Failure to keep the Sabbath brought the wrath of God. It was a sign between God and Israel. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, according to Jesus. Since Jesus was born under the Law of Moses, He faithfully kept the Sabbath for more than thirty years.

Understanding the law of the Sabbath helps to clarify the nature of the law of Christ and the observance of another day, which is significant to the memorial of God’s Son. Jesus abolished the Law of Moses, including the keeping of the Sabbath. There is no requirement to observe the Sabbath as it has been done away with. Has God left His people without a day of remembrance? The pattern of the New Testament church is the saints met on the first day of the week, the day following the Sabbath. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. The first converts were added to the church on the first day of the week. In the historical book of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke shows how the early church gathered on the first day of the week to worship and praise God. There is no reference to keeping the Sabbath, although the first converts were Jews. The New Testament church observed the first day of the week as the day of the Lord.

Before Jesus was betrayed and killed, He instituted the memorial feast of the Lord’s Supper. He commanded His disciples to observe the memorial until He returned. In the New Testament church, the early saints gathered on the first day of the week to remember the memorial of Christ’s death. Paul reminded the saints at Corinth of the essential nature of taking the supper worthily or facing the wrath of God. The Hebrew writer warns of those who would trample underfoot the Son of God, count the blood of the covenant a common thing, and insult the Holy Spirit.

Sunday is what is called the first day of the week. This is the day the saints of God assemble to worship and remember the sacrifice of Jesus. Like the Sabbath under the Law of Moses, this is not a day with options. For too long, brethren have viewed Sunday as a day to worship unless something “more important” comes along. They will allow their jobs to keep them from their obligations on the first day of the week. Sometimes for weeks on end. During the summer, vacations are seldom planned with Sunday services in mind. When company drops in, there is no time to attend worship. Of course, God will understand that these things happen, and He will understand. Will He? Does He?

The problem in the church has become rampant that Sunday worship services are optional. On the one hand, the church teaches the necessity of taking the Lord’s Supper every week in contrast to the religious world taking the supper once a month, quarterly, yearly, or never. Standing on Bible authority, the plea is made for every week; but not applicable to all members, as some show up to services as long as nothing else gets in the way. So much for putting God first in all things. Jobs are more important than God. Planning trips where the first day of the week is not assembling with saints is accepted.

Sunday is sacred to God. It is not a matter of how often on the first day, but the essentiality of the first day of the week is abundantly clear in scripture. It seems the church is afraid to practice Biblical truth when it comes to the necessity to assemble on the first day of the week. It becomes easier to pay no heed to flagrant disregard for the memorial of Jesus Christ. The cross means something if I can make it to the assembly, but if the boss wants me to work, Jesus has to wait. But how long will He wait? Sunday is either necessary or it is not. Choose.