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Precedence
The day following the sabbath, the first day of the week, is what we call Sunday. The verses Mk. 15:42-16:9 make this distinction quite clear. "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun" (Mk. 16:1, 2 [KJV]). Jesus was crucified on what we refer to as Friday and arose on what we refer to as Sunday. The "sabbath" and "first day" are mentioned in respect to chronological order in these two verses: thus it may be clearly seen that they are different--the latter is subsequent to the former --days of the week (realizing that Jesus arose on the third day). The aforementioned proponents simulated the first day of the week for the sabbath; the apostles did not instruct or imply as such. However, the early Christians did innovate a distinguished celebration. Perhaps verses Acts 20:6, 7 connote a New Testament tradition being established at Troas by the disciples' breaking of bread on the first day of the week (although there is no specific implication to rest and not do any work the whole day as the Jews once refrained on the sabbath day): "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 [KJV]). But when Paul was speaking with the Jewish law-oriented believers (although there is no implication of any inclination among the people to have regard for the first day of the week, nor did he encourage them to) he warned concerning "observance" [see Mishmarot] in its strict sense: "Therefore, do not let anyone judge (evaluate) you in meat or in drink, or in regard of a feast or new moon or sabbaths: Which are a shadow of things being about to come; but the body is of Christ" (Col. 2:16, 17). Although verses Colossians 2:16, 17 do not specifically refer to a sole perspective of observing or not observing the sabbath day as a day of rest and no work, they do imply that a higher standard of spiritual understanding is expected in regard to any day generally, and that the conformity of the requirement of those once special days being a shadow of things to come is not equivalent to the superior reality of the brilliance of grace and truth which shines through the minds of believers who have served God in obedience of faith. Christians are encouraged and anticipated to walk in the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col. 1:9), to whom God did desire to make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery are among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27); see verses 25 and 26. Christians are under grace, not under the law. The Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning the new covenant that God said he shall make with his people: "The time is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah" (Je. 31:31 [NEB]). And also: "God is a spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (Jn. 4:24 [NEB]). This new covenant was brought into effect and established by Jesus. The new covenant is better than the old one--fulfilling the old testament laws rather than destroying them. New covenant teachings repeal some old testament laws and practices, and extend others, for instance: Sacrifices and gifts were perfected by the sacrifice of Jesus obtaining eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:10-12); turning the other cheek (active piety by means of non-retaliation, not passivity) rather than "a tooth for a tooth" (Mt. 5:38); cf. Ex. 21:24; allowing all meat to be eaten (including pork) rather than only specified meat (Acts 10:11); cf. 1 Tim. 4:5, Lv. 11:7, and II Maccabees 6:18 of the Apocrypha--see the New English Bible; also note the glorious virtue to abide within the O.T. covenant regulations at the cost of their lives (6:18-7:42); the Jews are no longer required to keep feast days and celebrations (Col. 2:16); cf. Ps. 81:3-5, Ne. 10:32, 33; circumcision of the flesh is no longer required (Acts 15:9); cf. Gn. 17:10, Acts 15:1; etc.
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