Did you know that we take some things for granted? Think about it this way, how many churches do you know that assemble on the first day of the week, Sunday to us, for worship? Most churches in what is called “Christendom” gather upon Sunday to worship! Ever wonder why? It is just taken for granted that there is a reason; it is taken for granted that there is New Testament authority; and it is taken for granted that there is authority in “the teaching of Christ,” in that there is a command for Christians to assemble to worship God on “the first day of the week:” Sunday!
Well, stop for a moment and think! Run the New Testament through your mind and look for one commandment that says anything like, children of God are to assemble to worship on the first day of the week! Did you recall one such commandment? As the old song says it: “No, not one!” Are you surprised? More than likely you are, as you have just taken it for granted that somewhere in the New Testament, in “the teaching of Christ” there is such a commandment! Now you may be asking, how is it that the disciples of Christ, who were “called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26), always assembled on the first day of the week to worship God?
That they did this is clearly revealed in the New Testament. Those who were the first converts on that great Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus, did so! Luke wrote of them: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42). Pentecost was always on “the first day of the week!” Moses wrote in establishing the day: “And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, (Saturday, frw) from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths (7X7=49, frw) shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath (7X7+1=50, frw) shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD” (Lev. 23:15-16). There is the day of Pentecost and how it always came on “the first day of the week!” Now, what does this mean to our subject? It means that the first worship of the church, done by the “about three thousand souls,” was on “the first day of the week!”
Yet, we have no commandment! Many times we have heard preachers quote these words: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). Yes, this is a commandment! And it is generally applied to ‘the first day of the week” assembly of worship. However, Barnes in his notes says: “It properly means an act of assembling, or a gathering together, … The command, then, here is, to meet together for the worship of God, and it is enjoined on Christians as an important duty to do it.” However, read with clarity and notice the words, “the first day of the week,” do not appear in the text. Without doubt, “the first day of the week” assembly of worship is included in the “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,” but they are not limited to “the first day of the week” assembly of worship! Therefore, to this point we have a command for “assembling of ourselves together,” but no direct commandment to assemble on “the first day of the week.”
So, how do we ascertain New Testament authority, with responsibility, that carries the weight of a commandment, to assemble to worship God on “the first day of the week?” My friends and brethren, you look for a pattern! We have already seen the first point in the pattern in Acts 2:42; therefore, let us now add to this and make the pattern firm and sure! Luke also gives us the second point in the pattern: “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). Paul gives us a third point in the pattern: “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. 16:2). Finally, we have that general command, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,” which includes the pattern of “the first day of the week” assembly of worship!
Therefore, we have ascertained New Testament authority, authority within “the teaching of Christ” for the first day of the week assembly of worship!
Frank R. Williams