Discovering the New Covenant by Greg Taylor - exAdventist Outreach
Discovering the New Covenant by Greg Taylor - exAdventist Outreach
Discovering the New Covenant by Greg Taylor - exAdventist Outreach
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CHAPTER NINE<br />
THE SABBATH IN THE<br />
OTHER EPISTLES<br />
T<br />
he next text I studied was Romans 14. Here Paul takes<br />
a softer approach. The Jewish and Gentile Christians<br />
are living side <strong>by</strong> side. There are some who are highly<br />
concerned about food that might have been offered to idols,<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>rs are saying that idols do not exist, so <strong>the</strong>y eat just<br />
about anything. But some are judging one ano<strong>the</strong>r’s<br />
spirituality based on <strong>the</strong>se behaviors. Paul steps in to<br />
mediate in <strong>the</strong> dispute. It is in this context that <strong>the</strong> holiness<br />
of certain days over o<strong>the</strong>rs comes up again. Here it is an<br />
issue of Christian unity, not one of requirement for<br />
salvation, so his approach is much more gentle. Notice how<br />
Romans 14 reads:<br />
One person esteems one day above ano<strong>the</strong>r; ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in<br />
his own mind. He who observes <strong>the</strong> day, observes it to<br />
<strong>the</strong> Lord; and he who does not observe <strong>the</strong> day, to <strong>the</strong><br />
Lord he does not observe it. Rom. 14:5-6.<br />
Paul is again making <strong>the</strong> same basic statement, though<br />
in much gentler language. He is declaring once again, that<br />
<strong>the</strong> sacredness of days is no longer an issue for Christians.
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