Part 4: [12-16] The life that Pleases God - How the New Covenant People Should Live

Paul concluded Romans by telling us how the people of the New Covenant should live. What kind of laws do they obey? How do they relate to government? How do they function as a group?

Holiness and Love

This material is not organized as formal lecture notes, but is available in two sets of sermon notes:

The Christian Sabbath

  • The Question: Are all the commandments regarding the Sabbath in the Old Testament binding on us?

Arguments for

  • Creation ordinance
  • 10 Commandments:
    • Moral
    • Ceremonial
    • Civil
  • The O.T. Prophets spoke very strongly
    • Isa 58:13 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
  • Jesus rose from the dead on the 1st day, making it the start of the New Creation
  • Many people through the ages have been blessed by keeping it (and honoured by God)
  • It is healthy to rest one day in 7
  • The N.T. church met on the “Lord’s Day”

Arguments against

  • God rested at creation, but no command to keep it till the wilderness
    • Abraham didn’t keep the Sabbath
    • First mention was with giving of mana and was a total surprise
  • Ex 31:13 the Sabbath is the sign of the Covenant of Moses
  • Must be consistent:
    • Evening to evening
    • no cooking at all! or even heating
    • Didn’t have to go to church!
  • The main point was rest, which required faith in that society, to rest and see God provide all their needs.
  • no 3-part division
  • the other 9 are all repeated
  • This passage in Rom 14:5f
  • Col 2:16
  • Heb 3:7f
  • “Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden...”
  • Any command to meet together?
  • Jesus was “Lord of the Sabbath”
    • chose to do miracles on the 7th day
    • because they pointed to him as the fulfillment, the one who brought freedom
    • “A greater than David is here”

Is Sunday special in any way?

  • Yes, we remember Jesus’ victory. But not in any legalistic way

Closing greetings [15:14-16:27]

A. [15:14-33] Paul’s plans to be with them and blessings

B. [16:1-23] Closing greetings to individuals

C. [16:24-27] Final benediction