The Arguments for Sunday Keeping

Let us ask a couple of questions before we begin, "Why do New Testament Church's keep Sunday?" and "Is the authority for this found in the Bible?"

The following are the most common reasons that are used for keeping of Sunday over Saturday,

JESUS APPEARED TO HIS FOLLOWERS ON A SUNDAY: 

"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 20:19)

It says that the disciples were assembled in fear for their lives, so Jesus appeared to them in order to calm their fears. Does Jesus appearing to the disciples change the Sabbath or change the commandment of God to Saturday?

PAUL HELD CHURCH SERVICES ON A SUNDAY: 

"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)

We find here that the disciples had come together to eat a meal together because Paul was leaving them in the morning for Assos (20:13). Paul spent his time with them preaching before he left to encourage them and he wanted to spend time with them because did not know when he would be returning. If someone talks religion during a meal does that make it a church service?

PAUL ORDERED CHURCH COLLECTIONS ON A SUNDAY: 

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 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. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem." (1 Corinthians 16:1-3)

While traveling Paul had asked everyone to come together on Sunday for a collection for those who were in need in Jerusalem so that when he arrived things would be ready for him. So by taking up collections for the needy always have to be done on Sunday or during church services because Paul chose Sunday?

PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED ON PENTECOST SUNDAY

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41)

What's being missed here is that they were gathered together for the Festival of Weeks also know as Pentecost, the reason it is called the Festival of Weeks is that gets its name from the fact that it starts seven full weeks, or exactly 50 days, after the Feast of Firstfruits. Since it takes place exactly 50 days after the previous feast. “Pentecost” means fifty. Unlike other feasts that began on a specific day of the Hebrew calendar, this one does not. Scripture doe's not say this Pentecost was a Sunday. So does baptizing people on a Sunday, Tuesday, or Wednesday make the day holy and to be kept as church time?

JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON A SUNDAY: 

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher." (Luke 24:1,2)

This one is just out and out wrong, Jesus did not rise from the grave on Sunday, he rose three days to the second after his death. He did not die in the early morning. For a more detailed explanation on this one click here.

There is no basis for Sunday-keeping anywhere to be found in Scriptures.

When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease being honest.

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