Under Grace or Law?

Under Grace or Law?

2003021

Topic # 279 (grace)

Introduction:

A. Series on grace continues.

B. Throughout first 3 chapters of Romans Paul establishes fact that mankind stands justly condemned before God for his sin.

1. 1:18-21 – indictment of mankind in general esp. pagans.

2. 2:1-16 – indictment of moral man – one who thinks he knows right from wrong but who does very thing he condemns.

3. 2:17-29 – especially to Jews – had a law given them by God. See 2:21-23

4. 3:9 – conclusion: all under sin whether Jew/Greek. See also 3:23.

C. We may conclude God is just in condemning every one of us.

1. Responsibility placed right where it belongs – on an individual basis – on you & me.

2. This is pressed to great length.

D. Paul labors to explain law not the remedy for sin. Why?

1. “Justification” = pronounced free of guilt.

2. Justified and righteous from same basic word.

3. Only innocent are justified on the basis of law – but we are all guilty so law is not the remedy.

E. What is the remedy? Grace!

I. Under the law all are guilty!

A. Law makes guilt apparent.

1. Rom. 4:15; 1 John. 3:4. the law makes us aware of our sin. All have sinned.

2. Law makes us aware of our need for mercy. How many of us need mercy?

B. Rom. 3:19-20 – note 3:20 – no one justified through the law.

1. To seek justification on basis of law – one must keep it perfectly to be free of guilt.

2. No man ever kept it perfectly. Law makes us aware of the fact that we’re less than perfect.

C. Rom. 3:21 – a contrast

1. Law God gave Moses testified God would send Jesus – provide mercy for us. See 3:22-24

2. Since no one has kept law perfectly – all have sinned – we are saved by grace – not on the basis of law!

D. Does this mean it not necessary to obey? No!

1. It necessary to obey – but obedience alone will not save! Consider Rom. 4:1-2

2. Remember…”justified” means free of guilt.

a) Gal. 3:8-10 – justification by works requires perfect obedience to everything God commands.

b) Rom. 4:2- gives the person reason to boast. I did it myself! We can’t do that!

E. Illustration of law…CHART

1. A law system demands perfect obedience! (Galatians 3:10)

2. Imagine line = the standard we’re to live up to. (PPT)

a) Mt. 5:21 – law said: no murder.

b) Mt. 5:27 – law said: no adultery.

c) Mt. 5:31- law said: divorce permissible

d) Mt. 5:33 – law said: no false vows

F. But none will perfectly live up to God’s law. We will fail somewhere!

1. Fail? Guilty! Cannot be free of guilt under a law basis.

II. The law of Christ is a HIGHER STANDARD!

A. Yes…we’re under law. There = laws in Christianity just as were in Judaism.

1. Not a system of justification by law – but there are laws.

2. Here’s the standard. (PPT)

3. Pure legalism missed the intent of the law!

a) Mt. 5:22 – intent of the law – control anger.

b) Mt. 5:28 – intent of the law – control lust.

c) Mt. 5:32 – intent of the law – do not divorce.

d) Mt. 5:34-37 – intent of the law – speak the truth.

B. Christianity demands more than the legalistically minded Jew ever thought to expect:

1. Mt. 5:48 – perfect

2. 1 Pet. 1:15-16 – holy

3. 1 John 3:3 – pure

4. 1 John 4:7-8 – love

5. Lk. 6:36 – exhibit mercy

6. 1 John 1:5-7 – walk in the light as God is in the light.

7. This is the standard we are to live up to!

C. Hopeless?

1. if we look at Christianity as only a set of laws it is!

2. But..we’re under a new system – a new covenant. Difference? Jesus died for us on the cross!

3. Consider again Gal. 3:10-12. Does this mean we have no law?

e) No! Paul mentions the law of Christ Gal. 6:2

f) 3:13 – Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law.

1) What’s that? See 3:10

2) Curse of law system is that it demands perfection.

III. We are justified through faith.

A. Gal. 3:13-14 – Paul contrasts law w/faith.

1. What did Jesus do? He died so something could happen that didn’t happen before/after – so that man could be forgiven of sin.

2. Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven! This is grace!

B. CHART

C. He forgives me when I come & humbly submit to Him in baptism for remission of sin – Acts 2:38; 22:16

1. At this point my faith obtains for me the promise of God.

2. Past record erased; sins forgiven. Forgiveness readily available as I try to continually serve Him.

a) 1 John 2:1-3

b) See…we must keep His commandments!

c) Not one thing in scripture that says we are free from obedience!

d) Nothing suggests we should do less than our best! Rom. 6:1-2

3. But despite striving we fail. Not everything kept perfectly.

4. God in His grace provides forgiveness.

D. Back to Rom. 4.

1. Contrast between law & works here. Law/works/merit – 4:2-4; 14

2. grace/faith/promise seen in 4:13, 15-16

3. What God promised to Abraham only took place when Jesus came & died for us.

a) Blessings not through the law – but by grace through faith.

b) Until Jesus came, Abrahams’ descendants given the law to bring them to Christ – Gal. 3:24

c) It was to prepare them to see need for Christ – to cause them to seek mercy offered through Jesus.

E. Rom. 10:1-4 – Jews sought justification on merit basis and failed.

1. Ignorant of God’s plan. Many rejected God’s plan & mercy found in Jesus.

2. 10:3 – thought they could keep law perfectly & did not subject self to God.

3. Christians subject themselves to Jesus.

a) Knowing He only way to find redemption.

b) Don’t come to Him arrogantly claiming to do it but humbly subjecting oneself to God’s righteousness.

c) Faith means trusting in Christ!

F. 10:4 – Jesus is the end of the law.

1. Redemption found only in Jesus.

2. Not on basis of law kept so perfect that we demand it by merit.

3. But b/c we trust in Jesus to save us.

G. We need to daily think of Jesus. Daily think of our trust in Him.

1. Not a day we do not need forgiveness & mercy!

2. Not a day we do not need more strength to do better!

Conclusion:

A. Think of standard before us.

1. God is our father. We are to strive to know Him.

2. We to accept His will so that He lives in us & us in Him.

3. We to bring ourselves to be truly His children.

B. We must do works of God to be His children.

1. How many of us can claim justification on law basis? No one!

2. Must claim it on a mercy basis!

C. As we strive to do His will – we must continually ask Him to be merciful and forgive us so that we have opportunity to serve Him anew and strive to be His kind of Christian.

D. Today we’ve seen a contrast between merit/law/works & an obedience of faith – that continually looks to Jesus for mercy & forgiveness of sin.

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Under Grace or Law? 2003021 Topic # 279 (grace) Introduction: A. Series on grace continues. B. Throughout first 3 chapters of Romans Paul establishes fact that mankind stands justly condemned before God for his sin. 1. 1:18-21 – indictment of mankind in general esp. pagans. 2. 2:1-16 – indictment of moral man – one who thinks he knows right from wrong but who does very thing he condemns. 3. 2:17-29 – especially to Jews – had a law given them by God. See 2:21-23 4. 3:9 – conclusion: all under sin whether Jew/Greek. See also 3:23. C. We may conclude God is just in condemning every one of us. 1. Responsibility placed right where it belongs – on an individual basis – on you & me. 2. This is pressed to great length. D. Paul labors to explain law not the remedy for sin. Why? 1. “Justification” = pronounced free of guilt. 2. Justified and righteous from same basic word. 3. Only innocent are justified on the basis of law – but we are all guilty so law is not the remedy. E. What is the remedy? Grace! I. Under the law all are guilty! A. Law makes guilt apparent. 1. Rom. 4:15; 1 John. 3:4. the law makes us aware of our sin. All have sinned. 2. Law makes us aware of our need for mercy. How many of us need mercy? B. Rom. 3:19-20 – note 3:20 – no one justified through the law. 1. To seek justification on basis of law – one must keep it perfectly to be free of guilt. 2. No man ever kept it perfectly. Law makes us aware of the fact that we’re less than perfect. C. Rom. 3:21 – a contrast 1. Law God gave Moses testified God would send Jesus – provide mercy for us. See 3:22-24 2. Since no one has kept law perfectly – all have sinned – we are saved by grace – not on the basis of law! D. Does this mean it not necessary to obey? No! 1. It necessary to obey – but obedience alone will not save! Consider Rom. 4:1-2 2. Remember…”justified” means free of guilt. a) Gal. 3:8-10 – justification by works requires perfect obedience to everything God commands. b) Rom. 4:2- gives the person reason to boast. I did it myself! We can’t do that! E. Illustration of law…CHART 1. A law system demands perfect obedience! (Galatians 3:10) 2. Imagine line = the standard we’re to live up to. (PPT) a) Mt. 5:21 – law said: no murder. b) Mt. 5:27 – law said: no adultery. c) Mt. 5:31- law said: divorce permissible d) Mt. 5:33 – law said: no false vows F. But none will perfectly live up to God’s law. We will fail somewhere! 1. Fail? Guilty! Cannot be free of guilt under a law basis. II. The law of Christ is a HIGHER STANDARD! A. Yes…we’re under law. There = laws in Christianity just as were in Judaism. 1. Not a system of justification by law – but there are laws. 2. Here’s the standard. (PPT) 3. Pure legalism missed the intent of the law! a) Mt. 5:22 – intent of the law – control anger. b) Mt. 5:28 – intent of the law – control lust. c) Mt. 5:32 – intent of the law – do not divorce. d) Mt. 5:34-37 – intent of the law – speak the truth. B. Christianity demands more than the legalistically minded Jew ever thought to expect: 1. Mt. 5:48 – perfect 2. 1 Pet. 1:15-16 – holy 3. 1 John 3:3 – pure 4. 1 John 4:7-8 – love 5. Lk. 6:36 – exhibit mercy 6. 1 John 1:5-7 – walk in the light as God is in the light. 7. This is the standard we are to live up to! C. Hopeless? 1. if we look at Christianity as only a set of laws it is! 2. But..we’re under a new system – a new covenant. Difference? Jesus died for us on the cross! 3. Consider again Gal. 3:10-12. Does this mean we have no law? e) No! Paul mentions the law of Christ Gal. 6:2 f) 3:13 – Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. 1) What’s that? See 3:10 2) Curse of law system is that it demands perfection. III. We are justified through faith. A. Gal. 3:13-14 – Paul contrasts law w/faith. 1. What did Jesus do? He died so something could happen that didn’t happen before/after – so that man could be forgiven of sin. 2. Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven! This is grace! B. CHART C. He forgives me when I come & humbly submit to Him in baptism for remission of sin – Acts 2:38; 22:16 1. At this point my faith obtains for me the promise of God. 2. Past record erased; sins forgiven. Forgiveness readily available as I try to continually serve Him. a) 1 John 2:1-3 b) See…we must keep His commandments! c) Not one thing in scripture that says we are free from obedience! d) Nothing suggests we should do less than our best! Rom. 6:1-2 3. But despite striving we fail. Not everything kept perfectly. 4. God in His grace provides forgiveness. D. Back to Rom. 4. 1. Contrast between law & works here. Law/works/merit – 4:2-4; 14 2. grace/faith/promise seen in 4:13, 15-16 3. What God promised to Abraham only took place when Jesus came & died for us. a) Blessings not through the law – but by grace through faith. b) Until Jesus came, Abrahams’ descendants given the law to bring them to Christ – Gal. 3:24 c) It was to prepare them to see need for Christ – to cause them to seek mercy offered through Jesus. E. Rom. 10:1-4 – Jews sought justification on merit basis and failed. 1. Ignorant of God’s plan. Many rejected God’s plan & mercy found in Jesus. 2. 10:3 – thought they could keep law perfectly & did not *subject* self to God. 3. Christians *subject* themselves to Jesus. a) Knowing He only way to find redemption. b) Don’t come to Him arrogantly claiming to do it but humbly subjecting oneself to God’s righteousness. c) Faith means trusting in Christ! F. 10:4 – Jesus is the end of the law. 1. Redemption found only in Jesus. 2. Not on basis of law kept so perfect that we demand it by merit. 3. But b/c we trust in Jesus to save us. G. We need to daily think of Jesus. Daily think of our trust in Him. 1. Not a day we do not need forgiveness & mercy! 2. Not a day we do not need more strength to do better! Conclusion: A. Think of standard before us. 1. God is our father. We are to strive to know Him. 2. We to accept His will so that He lives in us & us in Him. 3. We to bring ourselves to be truly His children. B. We must do works of God to be His children. 1. How many of us can claim justification on law basis? No one! 2. Must claim it on a mercy basis! C. As we strive to do His will – we must continually ask Him to be merciful and forgive us so that we have opportunity to serve Him anew and strive to be His kind of Christian. D. Today we’ve seen a contrast between merit/law/works & an obedience of faith – that continually looks to Jesus for mercy & forgiveness of sin. E. I N V I T A T I O N