Sabbath or Sunday
Sabbath or Sunday—Law or Grace
Romans and Acts
SUNDAY, THE LORD’S DAY — associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. The first day of the week became the day of worship in the early church as a weekly memorial of Christ’s resurrection.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
The Lord’s Day is not to be confused with the Sabbath. The Jewish Sabbath corresponds with our Saturday, the seventh or last day of the week. This special day to the Jews commemorated the day on which God rested after the creation of the world.
- The sabbath law is found in Ex. 34:21; 23:12; 20:8ff.; Dt. 5:12ff.; Lev. 23:1ff.; 19:3; 26:2; Ex. 31: 12ff.; 35:1ff.
- The sabbath commandment required absolute rest for all, including servants and animals, on the ground that God made heaven and earth and also redeemed Israel. On the sabbath (and new moon) business stops, offerings are made, feasts are held, and the man of God may be consulted (2 Kgs. 4:23).
- The Sabbatical Year. The Seventh Year brings remission of all legal and financial obligations, the duty of leaving the land fallow, and the redistribution of property. In the fiftieth year, the Year of Jubilee, slaves are to be freed. There is NO EVIDENCE Israel ever followed these regulation, and freed slaves and restored land and fortunes…
Under the new covenant of grace, Christians are not to be trapped by the old legalism of observing days and seasons. The Jerusalem Council addressed the issues of food and Sabbath in Act; and they did not include a demand for Sabbath observance in rules for Gentile Christians…
(Acts 15:20 (Amplified New Testament)
20 But we should send word to them in writing to abstain from and avoid anything that has been polluted by being offered to idols, and all sexual impurity, and [eating meat of animals] that have been strangled, and [tasting of] blood.
Acts 15:28-29 (Amplified New Testament)
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay upon you any greater burden than these indispensable requirements: 29 That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from [tasting] blood and from [eating the meat of animals] that have been strangled and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell [be strong]!
Why was this so important to Paul and the other Apostles? Let’s find out…
The Book of Romans was written just after the Jerusalem Council, on Paul’s Third Missionary Journey, to give foundational understanding to Gentiles concerning salvation, and our relationship to the Law.
· The Epistle to the Romans consists of three parts, a doctrinal section (chaps. 1–8) and a practical section (chaps. 12–16), separated by three chapters on the place of Israel in the history of salvation (chaps. 9–11).
· In Chapter 1-3, Paul shows the Gentiles have broken the law of conscience, and the Jews the law of Moses—therefore both people’s were in need of a Deliverer.
· Paul explains that righteousness comes by the grace of God through people’s trust in the saving work of Christ (3:21–31). The example of Abraham testifies that the promise of God is realized through faith (4:1–25). The benefits of Justification are peace and confidence before God (5:1–11). Thus, Christ’s ability to save is greater than Adam’s ability to corrupt (5:12–21).
· Paul then takes up the problem of Sin in the Christian life. Rather than acting as a stimulus to sin, Grace draws us into a loyal union with Christ (6:1–14). Christ has freed us from slavery to sin so that we may become slaves of righteousness (6:15–7:6). Paul admits that the law brings sin to light, but sin convinces us of our need for a Savior (7:7–25). Paul concludes the doctrinal section by one of the most triumphant chapters in all the Bible: believers are not condemned by God, but are raised by the power of the Holy Spirit to face all adversity through the redeeming love of God (8:1–39).
· But the Seventh Chapter is of extreme importance—it not only shows the internal struggle of the Christian, it unveils basic truth about Law and Grace using the marriage relationship:
Romans 7:1-6 (Munson)
DO YOU not know, brethren—for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the Law—that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive? 2 For instance a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is loosed, discharged from the law concerning her husband. 3 Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives.”
o We cannot be legally bound to two husbands—the Law requires one mate, until separation occurs at death.
o After death, the woman is free to marry again.
o But if she marries before the death of the original partner, she is an adulterer.
[Continue on…]
“But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her because she is free from that law; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.”
o So death must occur BEFORE the new marriage can be honored by God.
[Now Paul applies the truth…]
“4Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death to the Law through the crucified body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.
5 When we were living mere physical lives, the sinful passions were awakened by what the Law makes sin—we were constantly operating in our natural powers, in the sensitive appetites of the flesh, so that we bore fruit for death.
6 But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all contact with it, having died to what once enslaved and held us captive. So now we serve not under obedience to the old code of written regulations, but under obedience to the promptings of the Spirit in newness of life.”
o The Law served its purpose in making us aware of our need for a Deliver. Christ is the fulfillment of the Law!
o To return to the Law is to commit spiritual adultery. When a Christian turns back to the Law, they are embracing another mate, and committing spiritual adultery…
Summary of Key Concepts:
1. Demanding that the Sabbath is the only genuine day of worship for all believers portrays biblical ignorance:
a. The Law was a shadow—and Christ is the fulfillment… Our rest is in Christ not in Law.
b. The Apostles addressed the issue at the Jerusalem Council, and purposely left it out of instruction for new believers.
c. Grace is more demanding than the Law—living by grace requires more discipline, and demands more responsible action, as we listen and follow the Holy Spirit.
d. Keeping the Law undermines the faith of believer, and distorts the message of grace to the lost. It gives the false image that salvation is found through the Law and kept by good works.
· Jesus Christ completed the Laws requirements, we are joined to Christ—the Law served its intended purpose, to lead us the Deliverer!
· Any substitute for Jesus Christ is spiritual adultery. Salvation is in Christ and Christ alone!
Sabbath or Sunday—Law or Grace
Romans and Acts
Summary of Key Concepts:
Demanding that the Sabbath is the only genuine day of worship for all believers portrays biblical ignorance:
ÿ The Law was a ________________ and _________t is the fulfillment…
ÿ The ________________addressed the issue at the ____________ ________________, and purposely left it out of instruction for new believers.
ÿ Grace is more demanding than the Law—living by grace requires more _____________, and demands more ______________ _____________, as we listen and follow the Holy Spirit.
ÿ Keeping the Law _________________ the faith of believer, and _________________ the message of grace to the lost.
ÿ ______________ ________________ completed the Laws requirements.
ÿ Any substitute for Jesus Christ is __________________ _______________.
Sabbath or Sunday—Law or Grace
Romans and Acts
Summary of Key Concepts:
Demanding that the Sabbath is the only genuine day of worship for all believers portrays biblical ignorance:
ÿ The Law was a ________________ and _________t is the fulfillment…
ÿ The ________________addressed the issue at the ____________ ________________, and purposely left it out of instruction for new believers.
ÿ Grace is more demanding than the Law—living by grace requires more _____________, and demands more ______________ _____________, as we listen and follow the Holy Spirit.
ÿ Keeping the Law _________________ the faith of believer, and _________________ the message of grace to the lost.
ÿ ______________ ________________ completed the Laws requirements.
ÿ Any substitute for Jesus Christ is __________________ _______________.