Dear Bruce,
Sorry to be a pain in responding to you on this point, but as one who adheres to Calvin and Ursinus on the Sabbath (i.e. that it exists in the new covenant but doesn't have to be on Sunday), I struggle to find your argument actually
commanding believers to public worship on Sundays.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contra_Mundum  As for number 1, God sets the time and place for meeting with him. Jesus (God) began meeting with his gathered disciples starting on the day of his resurrection, and then the following week, the first day also, and then his ascension day, |
Two points:
[1] Jesus certainly appeared to his disciples on Sundays, however was it always for corporate worship? It's not at all clear.
[2] Just because this was done by Jesus, how do we know if it becomes an
ought for us? It's the idea that something descriptive is not necessarily
prescriptive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contra_Mundum and then we find the disciples continuing this pattern, first as they are meeting on Pentecost, |
But Pentecost was a Jewish rite?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contra_Mundum then Acts 20:7 |
[1] Why is Acts 20:7 prescriptive? In Acts 19:9-10 Paul met publicly daily with his disciples.
[2] If slaves were a part of this Sunday gathering (as highly likely) they most likely would've have been able to take all of Sunday off. Hence, this meeting appears to begin at the end of the day (that's why Paul speaks into the night).
Thus, it's difficult to see this verse as a
command for all believers. If it is a command why stop at meeting on Sunday, what not say we all have to meet at the close of the day as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contra_Mundum and 1 Cor. 16:2, |
This is a command to the Corinthians about taking up a collection. Can we prove that it's
also about public worship? It
might be. But ultimately we can't
prove it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contra_Mundum then Rev 1:10. |
This says nothing about
corporate worship; only that John was in the Spirit himself. Moreover, "Lord's Day" is most likely a Christian reference to the day Sunday, the first day in the week. That it also entailed a Sabbath we just can't prove. We must be careful not to read later ideas back into the phrase "Lord's Day".
Every blessing Bruce.