Sabbath and Special Days
A Sermon on Romans 14:1-6
Originally preached Nov. 10, 1967
Scripture
1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Romans 14:1–6 titled “Sabbath and Special Days,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones offers that Paul is not addressing the importance of observation of the Sabbath since that has been established in Scripture for all time. He provides Scriptural support for this and offers up a question that has been discussed in Christian circles often since the early church: what day of the week is supposed to be set aside for the Sabbath – Saturday or Sunday? He references Biblical evidence for the day of the week that Christians used to meet on, as well as historical evidences from writings that are outside of Scripture. How do Christians today make the right choice about the day to meet? To answer this, Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that the early church would not have changed the day of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday arbitrarily— he argues that they must have received a revelation that it was good to change it. However, he also states that it is not an issue over which Christians should divide. He addresses extreme Sabbatarianism, a view that is very literal about how the Sabbath day should be observed, and provides helpful points to consider when thinking through it. In echoing Paul, he concluded that Christians are to be fully persuaded in their own mind from Scripture about which decision is correct.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is dealing with indifferent things in Romans 14, not essential matters of faith.
- The specific issues Paul addresses are:
- Whether or not to eat certain foods, specifically meat. Some believed they could eat all foods while others only ate vegetables.
- The observance of certain days as holy, specifically Jewish feast days and fast days. Some esteemed certain days as holier than others while others viewed all days alike.
- Paul says we should not judge or condemn others over these indifferent matters. Each person should be fully convinced in their own mind.
- Paul is not addressing the observance of the Sabbath or which day should be observed as the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a moral law, not a ceremonial law. Paul is addressing extra feast and fast days added by Jews, not the Sabbath.
- The early church began meeting on the first day of the week, the Lord's day, not the Sabbath. This was likely due to Jesus's resurrection.
- We must follow our consciences but also be open to persuasion from Scripture. Our consciences can be wrong and need enlightenment. But we should never go against our consciences.
- Bigotry and unwillingness to listen to others is wrong. We must be willing to understand different viewpoints and be persuaded when Scripture shows us we are wrong. But we must act according to our conscience.
- The guiding principle is that the Sabbath and Christian liberty were made to serve us, not enslave us. We must not go to extremes but use them for God's glory and our good.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 14: Questions About Days, Observances, and Christian Liberty
What is the main topic of Romans 14:1-6 according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Romans 14:1-6 deals with "things indifferent" - matters about which there is "no clear absolute rule or commandment laid down in the scriptures." In the first part of the chapter, Paul addresses the issue of eating certain meats, and in verses 5-6 he moves to his second example: how different believers view special days. These are areas where Christians have liberty and where differences should not cause division in the church.
How does Lloyd-Jones distinguish between the moral law and ceremonial law regarding the Sabbath?
Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between the moral law (which includes the Sabbath command) and the ceremonial law. He states: "The question of observing the Sabbath is not a matter of indifference. That is a matter of law. Sabbath observance is a part of the moral law in contradistinction to the ceremonial law." He emphasizes that "the moral law is not temporary. The moral law is permanent," while "the ceremonial law was only for the time being amongst the Jews." The moral law was never abrogated and remains binding.
What days is Paul referring to in Romans 14:5 according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones argues that Paul is not primarily discussing the weekly Sabbath in Romans 14:5, but rather special feast days, fast days, and festivals. He points to similar passages in Colossians 2 and Galatians 4 for context. These were typically Jewish feast days and festivals appointed by the ceremonial law, along with additional observances added by Jewish religious authorities over time. In a contemporary context, he suggests these would be similar to saints' days, Lent, or special observances like Christmas and Easter.
What principle does Lloyd-Jones suggest for deciding whether to observe special days?
The key principle Lloyd-Jones highlights is found in Paul's words: "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." He explains this means Christians must "think these things through carefully and thoroughly" rather than acting mechanically, ignorantly, or simply following what others tell them. Believers should study the Scriptures, understand the reasons for their position, and act according to their conscience. However, he also emphasizes that conscience needs to be educated and enlightened by Scripture.
What are the extremes to avoid regarding special days and observances?
Lloyd-Jones warns against two extremes: those who "almost worship the days and regard them as essential," and those who "react violently against them and take merit unto themselves because they don't observe" special days. He suggests that both extremes adopt "a legalistic attitude towards these matters and are not enjoying freedom and liberty." He urges a balanced approach, noting that while Christians shouldn't make these observances essential, they can use occasions like Christmas or Good Friday as opportunities to preach the gospel.
How should Christians handle disagreements about observances according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christians should not quarrel about these matters. He states that believers should not attempt to impose their views on others, but rather respect different conscientious positions. He warns against bigotry, describing it as "unreasoning" and "a spirit of fear." Instead, Christians should be "open to instruction" and "open to persuasion," while still acting according to their conscience until convinced otherwise from Scripture. The principle is to "bear with" those who have different views on these secondary matters.
What is Lloyd-Jones' view on the change from Sabbath observance on the seventh day to the first day?
Lloyd-Jones notes that there was a clear change in the early church from seventh-day to first-day observance, citing Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, and Revelation 1:10 as evidence. He argues this wasn't arbitrary but happened because the early Christians saw the Lord's Day (the day of Christ's resurrection) as the fulfillment of the Sabbath principle. He states: "The first day of the week, the day that our Lord rose from the dead, the Lord's day is the day that corresponds to the sense and to the first creation."
What does Lloyd-Jones mean by "extreme Sabbatarianism"?
Lloyd-Jones defines "extreme Sabbatarianism" as going "to extremes beyond anything that is taught in the scripture" regarding Sabbath observance. He gives examples such as prohibiting walking on a promenade on Sunday or walking more than a few yards. He reminds us of Jesus' teaching that "the Sabbath was made for men, not men for the Sabbath." The Sabbath is meant to help us worship God, not become "a yoke and a real burden." The proper observance focuses on giving the day to the Lord rather than worrying about minor details.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.