"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16,17
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The Gospel, Grace and Law
I. The Law of Moses:
II. The Law Of Faith:
III. Grace Is Not A License To Sin Or To Exchange Truth For Error:
Conclusion: The Cross Makes The Difference.Introduction
A. In our lesson last week, we noted Salvation and the Grace of God.
1. Grace is the amazing unmerited favor which God provided man in sending Jesus to die for sins.
2. The cure for sin is available to all who will receive it is obedient faith.
Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
3. The meaning of Grace must always emphasize God’s mercy and our being undeserving.
B. But, as with most Bible teachings there are tendencies to go to one extreme or another.
1. Some make Christianity into a “law system”, i.e. Do this minimum, that obligation and you will be okay. This system is composed of “works” which man might boast of.
2. Others make Grace totally and completely a work of God which we have not part in whatsoever.
a. This being the case, there is no possibility of falling away.
C. Today, we will note that Grace is not the absence of Law, but it is not justification by the Law.
1. Some are saying that Grace and Law are opposed to each other, you are either under one or the other.
2. This means in their thinking that there are no essential standards of conduct and worship which are so important that we should divide over them.
a. Grace is expected to cover all the ignorance, disbelief and disobedience practiced by those of any denomination who call themselves “Christians.”I. The Law of Moses:
A. The Bible tells us that in Jesus brought a new system of religion: Grace and Truth.
John 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
B. The Law of Moses Came To An End When Christ Died:
Col 2:13-14 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
Heb 10:9 "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."
C. Moses’ law was designed, not to provide relief from sin, but to point out and constantly remind people of the wages of sin (death- sacrifice of animals).
Rom 7:12-13 "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful."
Rom 7:7 "What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
Heb 10:1-12 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;"
Gal 2:16-19 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."
D. The law of Moses though good was in one sense, our enemy because it pointed out sin but provided no relief from sin, only guilt.
1. The law of Moses prepares us and points us to another religious system: FAITH.
Gal 3:22-27 "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Rom 3:19-22 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"
E. Under the law of Moses, one could only stand justified by own perfection.
James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."II. The Law Of Faith:
A. Many today are confused about the difference between the Law of Moses and Grace under Christ.
1. Grace is not the absence of any law (standard of right and wrong), for without law there is nosin. Sin exists under the Grace system.
Rom 4:15 "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."
1 John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
2. New Testament is actually a law or rule of its own.
Isa 2:3 "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
Rom 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Rom 3:27 "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
Gal 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
3. There are standards and commandments and our relationship with God is conditioned on faith and holding to these standards.
John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
1 John 2:3-5 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."
4. The standard revealed under the New Testament of Christ cannot be compromised or considered unimportant.
Jude 1:3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
2 John 1:9-10 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:"
B. Obedience to the will of God is essential to finding Grace in Christ:
Mat 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Heb 5:8-9 "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
C. We are justified by the system of faith, the new covenant: which is trust and submission to Christ:
Rom 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
James 1:20-25 "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."III. Grace Is Not A License To Sin Or To Exchange Truth For Error:
A. Some have exchanged the law of faith for a Grace which overlooks and has no problem with sin and error.
1. The Bible does not take such a view of sin and error, even under Grace.
Rom 5:20-6:2, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
a. Sin still exists under grace, Sin is still wrong; Ignoring God’s will is still sin and should be
avoided by those who have died with Christ (Rom 6:3,4).
B. Christ’s Grace does not turn something sinful into something not sinful!!!
1. It does not turn adultery into a good approved marriage.
2. It does not turn human denominations into the church of Jesus Christ.
3. It does not turn disobedience to the will of God into acceptable behavior.
Jude 1:4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
C. Grace does not lower the standards of our behavior from that expected under the old law:
Mat 5:21-22 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
Mat 5:43-45 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
1. Note who will not inherit the kingdom (1 Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21).
2. Note there are those claiming Christ which we must separate ourselves from (2 Thes 3:14; 1 Cor 5:11).Conclusion: The Cross Makes The Difference.
A. Where the Law of Moses and the Law of Faith become really Different is AT THE CROSS:
1. Where the law left us without hope, Grace leaves us with a way out of sin.
2. Yes, there must be the presence of living faith (Jas. 2:4), but the work is does by Christ.
3. Now we have an Advocate to remedy our sins, when we have faith to confess them:
1 John 1:4-10 "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."1 John 2:1-4 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
