I, on another forum, have been in discussion with a Jewish man. It started as a question from another new believer that asked why we do not have church on the "Sabbath". Of course, my explanation comes from the NT. It has turned into a discussion about Jewish traditions and the corruption of the Jewish priests, etc. My arguments come from Jesus and the NT. His from the Torah and tradition. Also a Catholic man has joined and is arguing tradition as he is against Sola Scriptura.
What other means or resources are there to discuss this without the NT. The Jewish man here does not recognize the NT as Scripture and he definitely does not recognize any authority of Jesus or His followers. Is this a wasted debate or discussion? I do not think I will convince this man of Jesus' deity or lead him to Christ, but perhaps I can give him some things to think about and consider that later he may remember and consider.
God Bless!
Personally I do think that this discussion may be a waste of your effort and time. No one can be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ. Believing that Sunday is the Lord's Day will not save anyone. Nor will your friend's status as a Jew save him, anymore than a person can be saved because he happens to be Chinese. I'm of the school of thought that we must always remain focused on Christ and his Gospel, because there is salvation in no one else.
But I'm not at all familiar with your discussion, and maybe you feel that if you continue your discussion, this man might at least receive a good testimony about the Gospel. Maybe you'll at least make a new friend, and that is certainly an excellent way to lead someone to Christ. If you feel that this discussion may be worth your while, then here's a piece of text by an early church father named Justin Martyr, which might help explain to this man why we worship on Sunday.
And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. 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; and Jesus 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. (St. Justin Martyr, First Apology, Ch. 67)
So here we see not only why our spiritual ancestors worshiped on Sunday, but also how they worshiped. It's also important to note how highly these early Christians revered the prophets, the same prophets in whom modern Jews believe. Here we see that as the Apostles of the New Testament said, the prophets testify to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is certainly an important thing for any Jew to learn.
