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Brother Barry: Hello and welcome to Face the Truth, a program brought to you by the Church Of Christ. I am Brother Barry Thompson. On any given Sunday, millions of people the world over gather themselves in different places and many in chapels or worship buildings to worship. Now, why do so many worship on Sundays? Where did this come from, and is Sunday the correct day to worship, or should it be Saturday only, as some others strongly believe? Now we will be giving biblical answers to these questions and others but first, why should we worship in the first place, and who should we worship?
Well, let’s see what is written in the Book of Psalms 95:6-7. This is what we can read:
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice…
[Psalm 95:6-7 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Now, why is it that we worship in the first place? Well, we worship because this is a command of God. In fact, as human beings, one of our inherent obligations or reason for our existence is to worship our Almighty Creator or the Lord God. So, anyone who fails to worship God fails to fulfill the reason for being alive or the reason for existing. And this would be a serious ingratitude to God.
Now aside from worshipping the Almighty God, is there anyone else whom we should worship? Well we’ll read the answer given to us in the Book of Philippians, the chapter is 2 and the verses are 9, 10, and 11, the Apostle Paul says this:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[Philippians 2:9-11 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Now, aside from worshipping the true God, is there someone else whom we should worship? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us that God highly exalted Christ and gave Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow or every one should worship Christ.
So, worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ is also our obligation. However, we should understand that we worship Christ not because He is God, because we know based on the Bible that Jesus Christ is a man and not the true God. Instead, we worship Christ because the Almighty God who created the Lord Jesus Christ commands us to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. And when we worship the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Apostle Paul, it is for God’s glory.
Now, how important is it that we worship God? Well, let’s listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ says here in the Book of John, chapter 4, and the verse is 23, this is written:
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
[John 4:23 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Now, did you notice what the Lord Jesus Christ said? That when there is that time for worship, Christ said the Father is seeking such to worship Him. And so the Almighty God is waiting to be worshipped. This is something that’s not to be taken lightly or as a trivial matter. No one should keep God waiting, nor should He have to beg people to worship Him. To worship God is our inherent duty to our Creator.
Now, the next question then is, where is the proper place to worship God? Psalms 5:7, this is the answer:
But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
[Psalm 5:7 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Where is it that God should be worshipped? According to the Bible, we should worship God in His temple. The equivalent is the house of worship or a chapel or worship building. So, what we see being done today where many people are gathered in worship buildings or houses of worship, is actually not a new thing. This has been done by God’s people since the ancient times, but why is it that in the Christian time, in our time, so many people, not only worship but worship on Sundays? Is this biblical? When did the first Church conduct their gathering together or worship services? We’re going to read from the Acts of the Apostles, Acts chapter 20 and the verse is 7, this is stated:
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: 7 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: So, take notice that the Christians of the first century gathered together all worshipped on the first day of the week or the day of Sunday. So it’s not surprising that today so many religious groups also worshipped on Sundays. However, is Sunday the only day that people can worship Him or the Christians of the first century worship God? Aside from Sunday, were there other days that they gathered for worship? We’ll get the answers from the Holy Scriptures. We’ll stay in the Book of Acts, this time we will read chapter 2 and the verse is 46, this is written:
They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity…
[Acts 2:46 New Living Translation]
Brother Barry: Now, were the Christians worshipping during the first century on other days other than the day of Sunday? The answer is yes, according to the verse that we have just read. There were instances when the first Christians worshipped each day or every day. This was during the time of the Apostles, and at that time, led by the Apostles or the Church Administration, this is what the Church did. Now based, then, on what the Church in the first century practiced, there is no one particular day for worship. Any day of the week can be a day for worship.
However, there are a few today, quite a few today, who argue that not just any day will do. The holy day they consider is Saturday or the 7th day, also known as the Sabbath day. They consider it as a day of rest, and that is the proper or correct day that worship should be done. Now the Bible does mention about observing the 7th day or Sabbath day. The question is this: Is this still a commandment that Christians should observe? We’ll find out when we return.
Brother Barry: Welcome back to Face the Truth. Earlier we learned that the first Christians held their worship services not just on the day of Sunday, but there were even times that they worshipped everyday. And so any day can be a day of worship. However, we also know that there are people today who believe that the proper or correct day for worship is only the day of Saturday. Others would still be following what they called the seventh day or the Sabbath day. Now, in the Christian time, do we still need to keep or observe the Sabbath day? To answer this question, we need to go back and find out when and to whom this commandment was given because there are commandments from God that don’t apply to everyone. For example, God commanded Noah to build an ark to save people from the great flood. That commandment was given only to him and at that time and for a specific reason. How about observing the Sabbath day? To whom was this commandment to observe the Sabbath day given? We’re going to read from the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 5, and the verse is 3. We’re going to read from the first part of that verse. This is written:
The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers,
[Deuteronomy 5:3 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Now first we should notice that Moses was speaking to the Israelites and he said to them, “the Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers or the patriarchs.” So, there was a covenant that was not given during the time of the patriarchs or the fathers. Now if this covenant was not given during the time of the fathers or patriarchs, to whom was it given? Now, let us continue reading verse 3, but we’ll start with the first part of it again and continue to the second part.
The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.
[Deuteronomy 5:3 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Now if the covenant was not given during the time of the patriarchs or the fathers, to whom was this covenant given? Well we read here in the second part of verse 3, it says “with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.”
Who are being referred to by the phrase “all of us who are alive today” and which is this covenant? Let’s continue to read. We read verse 3, we’re going to read now verse 15 of the same book and chapter:
And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
[Deuteronomy 5:15 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: So, who were being referred to by the phrase mentioned in verse 3 as to “us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive”? The Israelites who were brought out from bondage in Egypt were the one specifically given the covenant to keep. Which was this covenant? You notice what we read in what the verse stated? “The Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” Therefore the commandment to observe the Sabbath was specifically given to the Israelites to keep or observe. Did the keeping of the Sabbath continue until the Christian time as some would contend or argue? We will not answer that by ourselves. We will just read the answer from the Holy Scriptures. We’re going to read from the Book of Hosea the chapter is 2 and the verse is 11:
I will put an end to all her festivities—her annual and monthly festivals and her Sabbath celebrations—all her religious meetings.
[Hosea 2:11 Good News Translation]
Did you notice what God decided that He would do? He said He would put an end to the Sabbath. Now, when would the keeping of the Sabbath end? Luke 16:16, now we go to the Christian time…
The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
[Luke 16:16 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: So based on what we’ve read, the law, that is God’s laws that were given to Israel through Moses was until the time of John the Baptist. So, there was a specific group of people commanded to keep the Sabbath and there was a specific time that this was law in effect. Now, what’s the proof that the Sabbath was no longer commanded to be observed during the Christian time? What we’re going to do is go back to the time when it was commanded to be observed and how the people then, God’s people observed the Sabbath. And this is written in the Book of Deuteronomy 5:14:
But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
[Deuteronomy 5:14 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Based on the Holy Scriptures, on the Sabbath day, it was strictly prohibited to do any work because it was observed as a day of rest. Now, did the first Christians observe this or follow this command that no work should be done on the Sabbath day? Let’s go now to the Christian time, we’ll be reading from the Book of Mark, chapter 2, the verses are 23 and 24:
Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
[Mark 2: 23-24 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Notice the events that were taking place in the verses that I’ve read happened on the Sabbath day. The Disciples of Christ began to pluck the heads of grain on the Sabbath day with full knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ because He was with them. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ did not stop them nor did He reprimand them. That is why if the Sabbath was still commanded during the Christian Era, the disciples of Christ would have been guilty of sin as the Pharisees attempted to accuse them, but they were not. In fact, what was the instruction of the Apostles concerning the Sabbath? Let’s read from the Book of Colossians, chapter 2 and the verse is 16:
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
[Colossians 2:16 New International Version]
Brother Barry: That is clear from the verse we have read that the observance of the Sabbath is not applicable in the Christian time. So those who believe and are teaching that the Sabbath should still be observed, it should only be the exclusive day for worship are not in line with the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. And thus, could not be considered as true followers of Christ or true Christians.
And so going back to the primary topic of our lesson today which answers the question as to what is the correct day to worship? Well any day can be a day of worship. In the Church Of Christ, or the Iglesia Ni Cristo, we hold our worship services on different days of the week just like the early Christians at the time of the Apostles who worshipped each day. And in many of our locations ,we have Sunday, but we also have Saturday and other days of the week. What is important is that we worship God.
However, it is a must that we reveal to you that not all who worship have the right to do so. In other words, God does not accept all forms of worship, and we’ll find out why when we return.
[Break]
Brother Barry: Welcome back to Face the Truth. Before our break, we learned the commandment regarding the Sabbath no longer applies in the Christian Era and the belief that this should be the exclusive day for worship is not a biblical teaching. Now what is important is that we worship God. But will all forms of worship be acceptable to God? How can we know if God accepts all forms of worship or not? We’re going to read what is written in the Book of Matthew, chapter 15 and the verse is 9, this is stated:
And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
[Matthew 15:19 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: So, we asked a question, “Does God accept all forms or worship or all those who worship Him?” Well what we read is that there are those who worship God, but their worship of God is in vain which is the equivalent to being useless or unacceptable to God. Why? Because their worship is not based on God’s commandments, instead they are based on commandments of man or human teachings and commandments.
So what then is worship based on God’s teachings and commandments? Who does God seek to worship Him? We will read now John, chapter 4, a verse we read earlier in our lesson, John chapter 4 and verse is 23, Christ said:
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
[John 4:23 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Now, Christ mentioned that the Father is seeking the true worshipers to worship Him. Now when Christ mentioned that there are true worshipers being sought by the Father, it also indicates to us that there are others who are considered as false worshipers. Well, how can one be acceptable to God, gain the right to worship God or how can one become a true worshipper? Hebrews 9 and 14:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[Hebrews 9:14 New King James Version]
Brother Barry: Notice based on what we have read for one to be able to serve God, for one to be able to worship God, one has to be cleansed from dead works or sins. What is the only thing that can cleanse a person from dead works or sins for them to have the privilege and right to worship God? It is only the blood of Christ that can cleanse us from sin.
So, we have to find out now which was redeemed or which was purchased from the blood of Christ. We’ll read from the Book of Acts, the chapter is 20, and the verse is 28:
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.
[Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation]
Brother Barry: The Church Of Christ, based on the teaching of the Bible, was redeemed by Christ with His blood. This is then what people should be concerned about when we’re talking about worship and serving God, instead of concentrating or worrying about what particular day one should worship because any day can be a day of worship. We should first be concerned about if we are among the members of the Church Of Christ who have been cleansed or redeemed by the blood of Christ. Because being redeemed by the blood of Christ gives us the right and the privilege to serve God. It is only then that we can be considered by God as true worshipers, and be able to fulfill our inherent duty to worship our Almighty Creator.
And so the truth may be painful at first, but whether we like it or not, whether we believe it or not, the truth is something we all must face. Thanks for joining us, I’m Brother Barry Thompson. Until next time, God bless.
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