First Day Texts
Exodus 31:17,18
It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people forever.
Ezekiel 20:12
Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
The Sabbath is a symbol of sanctification (being made holy).
Hebrews 4:4-6,9
For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience… There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
The Sabbath symbolizes our rest in Jesus trusting Him for our Salvation.
Luke 23:56
Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Jesus’ closest followers would not embalm His body on the Sabbath. Certainly the Sabbath was not nailed to the cross for His followers kept it after He died.
Luke 24:1
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
The disciples visit the tomb to embalm His body on the first day.
Matthew 28:1
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
The women come to the tomb on the first day.
Mark 16:2
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
The women come to the tomb on the first day.
Mark 16:9
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
Now Jesus was risen on the first day.
John 20:1
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
Mary visits the tomb while it is yet dark. (Note—the above texts certainly cannot possibly indicate any sacred attachment by the early believers to Sunday since they did not even know at that point that Jesus had risen).
Romans 6:3-5
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
The symbol of the resurrection is baptism by immersion, not Sunday worship.
Acts 20:7
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.
In the Saturday night meeting (see the New English Bible) occurring on the dark part of the first day of the week, Paul preaches until midnight. The next day, Sunday, he travels by foot to Troas, then takes a boat too. Certainly, Paul did not sanctify Sunday.
John 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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
The disciples assemble on the first day of the week not to worship, but because they are afraid of the Jews.
1 Corinthians 16:2
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.
“By him” implies by himself at home. The original language refers to a settling of accounts. The Sabbath has past. It’s the first day—a good time at home to finalize bills, settle accounts and set aside an offering for the Lord’s work.
Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which he had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
God blessed the Seventh-day Sabbath at creation.
Romans 13:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Our love for God leads us as obedient servants to fulfill or keep the law.
Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Jesus did not come to destroy but to fulfill the law.
Romans 8:4
That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
When we come to Him, through His Spirit He enables us to keep the law.
