Many in the Hebrew Roots Movement accuse New Testament followers of Jesus of “changing the Sabbath to Sunday.” But that is not really the case. The Sabbath did not change but the covenant changed and Sabbath observance is part and parcel of the obsolete Mosaic covenant. The Sabbath did not change the covenant did (Heb 8:13). Christians began to meet on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) because that is the day Jesus rose from the dead. This is supported by early church documents like Justin Martyr’s First Apology. Justin was taught by Polycarp who was a disciple of John the Apostle who was taught by the Lord Jesus. Justin wrote
But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; andJesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration. (1st Apology, 67)
It seems to me Justin was in a much better position to know than modern HRMers two thousand years removed.
