The Sabbath in the NT - The Moral Law #1

The point: May God enable us to do what we see.

The hymn 'Trust and Obey' is quoted to set a tone of obedience and faith, encompassing the essence of the Christian faith and the sermon's call to action.

The following message was preached Sunday, September 13, 1998, to Emanuel Reformed Baptist Church of Sea-Tac, Washington. The speaker is Pastor Robert Martin. This message is the tenth in a series of twenty-four titled, The Christian Sabbath. ...simplicity of expression that really, I think, is ruined by too much elaboration.

0:04 - 0:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle, that is the smallest marks that made up He…

The 'jot or tittle' (smallest marks of Hebrew letters) is used to illustrate the minute and enduring precision of God's law, emphasizing that not even the smallest part will pass away until fulfilled.

Jesus says, Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle, that is the smallest marks that made up Hebrew letters, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle, shall in no way, shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

11:54 - 12:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Expounding Matthew 5:17-20, Martin explains Jesus' statement that He came not to destroy but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. He clarifies that 'fulfill' means to perfectly…

The practices of the Pharisees (explaining away the Law) and Sadducees (denying the Prophets) are used as examples of how Jesus' adversaries 'destroyed' the Old Testament, providing context for Jesus' statement that He came not to destroy but to fulfill.

But Jesus is referring to the Old Testament Scriptures in terms of the two segments of the Old Testament which were debated and degraded respectively by the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And let me explain what I mean. The Pharisees acknowledged the authority of all the Old Testament. The five books of Moses and what Jesus here terms the Prophets.

15:07 - 15:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Examining Mark 10:17-22, Martin shows how Jesus directs the rich young ruler to the Ten Commandments as the standard for eternal life. Jesus' aim was to expose the man's…

Paul's self-assessment in Philippians 3:6 ('touching the law blameless') is used to illustrate how one can be externally blameless yet internally covetous, highlighting the law's deeper spiritual demands.

But you know externally it could have been true of him. Do you remember what Paul said of himself in Philippians 3 and verse 6? Touching the law blameless.

35:00 - 35:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Examining Mark 10:17-22, Martin shows how Jesus directs the rich young ruler to the Ten Commandments as the standard for eternal life. Jesus' aim was to expose the man's…

A quote from an 'old writer' is used to define what the rich young ruler lacked: 'that supreme devotion and entire submission to the will of God which will dispose men to abandon anything for God's sake,' clarifying the true requirement of the moral law.

What this man lacked as one of the old writers has said what he lacked was that supreme devotion and entire submission to the will of God which will dispose men to abandon anything for God's sake. That's what he lacked. And indeed brethren that's what the moral law really requires isn't it?

36:04 - 36:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Examining Mark 10:17-22, Martin shows how Jesus directs the rich young ruler to the Ten Commandments as the standard for eternal life. Jesus' aim was to expose the man's…

The rich young ruler's wealth is presented as his 'God' or 'idol,' illustrating how his refusal to abandon it demonstrated his failure to keep the First Commandment, despite his claims of obedience.

And in order to show this man where his real lack was Jesus called him to abandon his wealth that which had become his God his idol.

36:56 - 37:07 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes the discussion of Mark 10 by emphasizing that the Ten Commandments retain their validity as the measure of righteousness and the revealer of sin. He explains that…

John's statement, 'he that loves not his brother whom he hath seen cannot love God whom he hath not seen,' is quoted to explain why Jesus cited the second table of the law to the rich young ruler, implying the first table.

But the man who does not love his neighbor in the way that the law requires does not love God in the way that the law requires. No matter what he possesses or professes rather. As John says, he that loves not his brother whom he hath seen cannot love God whom he hath not seen.

40:15 - 40:33 Read in full sermon