Acts 18:12 shows Satan again trying to prevent the spread of Christianity as Paul continued teaching the word of God in Corinth for a year and six months. Unbelieving Jews brought Paul before the judgment seat of Gallio, proconsul of Achaia, accusing Paul of teaching worship to God “contrary to the law.”
Verse 15 makes clear what law it was with which they were concerned. Gallio said to the Jews, “If it is a question of … your own law, look to it yourselves.” Paul, now a Christian, no longer taught any to worship according to the law of the Jews, the law given by Moses. Paul now taught all to worship God according to the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Christ’s church was established on a Sunday, as Pentecost always came on a Sunday. From its beginning, Christians were taught to worship on Sunday, not Saturday, the Sabbath. Sunday is the first day of the week. Saturday, the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week. It is on every Sunday that Christians are to continue observing that particular act of Jesus that He commanded, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19, New KJV).
Satan continues seeking to destroy the church today. He won’t succeed because God, through the prophet Daniel, prophesied that His kingdom on earth, the church, will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44). Confusion does abound today among denominations and independent Churches who mix practices from the Law of Moses with New Testament teaching to support their instruments of music in worship. Some lack understanding of the day on which Christians are to worship, such as the Seventh Day Adventists, the Worldwide and the United Church of God, and others who worship on Saturday, the Sabbath.
The pre-denominational churches of Christ hold to the teaching of the New Testament without following any Old Testament practices. Though God’s word is not contradictory, misunderstandings of God’s word cause practices supported by the teaching of the Old Testament, which practices are no longer God’s laws for today. We seek to teach as Paul and the other apostles did.
Questions To Aid Your Understanding And Spiritual Growth:
1. Has Satan continued from the first century until our time to hinder the church Christ established?
2. The worship of the Jews was controlled by what law?
3. Christian worship is to follow what law?
4. Do misunderstandings of God’s word cause practices that are supported by the teaching of the Law of Moses, which is no longer God’s law for today?